Dean Croke

Dean Croke is the Principal Analyst for DAT iQ, the freight data and analytics operation at DAT. He brings 35 years of experience in the fields of data science, supply chain management, logistics, risk management and human performance. For the latest market updates, follow @datfreightteam on Twitter.

Flatbed Report: Farm equipment sales signal headwinds for ag flatbed freight

The farm economy is sending a clear warning signal to flatbed carriers who haul agricultural equipment. U.S. retail sales of

Dry Van Report: Data centers are carrying demand while housing pulls back

The construction backlog tells carriers and brokers where the freight is heading, and right now it points at data centers.

World Cup freight: host city rates break away from the pack

Two weeks ago, World Cup host city reefer rates and the rest of the country were rising together — host

Reefer Report: The baton passes: Florida closes, Georgia opens at higher rates

The baton just passed. Central & South Florida files its Last Report of the season, and in the same breath

Flatbed Report: Peak season came early, and Texas flatbed carriers are getting paid like it

The SCOTUS ruling that invalidated IEEPA tariffs in February didn’t reduce trade uncertainty — it reshuffled it. The administration replaced

Dry Van Report: Transportation prices just hit an all-time record. The May LMI explains why.

The May LMI recorded Transportation Prices at 96.0 — the highest reading ever posted for any metric in the index’s

Reefer Report: Florida’s done. Yakima’s tightening. California just reset.

The produce freight market is quietly unwinding. Florida — the season’s dominant story for weeks — continues its rapid descent,

Flatbed Demand Report: Farm machinery sales signal flatbed headwinds ahead

The April 2026 AEM Farm Equipment Flash report delivered a mixed picture for agricultural machinery demand — and a cautionary

Dry Van Report: The two-tiered freight market; Navigating today’s split economy

The truckload sector is currently trapped in a tale of two entirely different economies, leaving many carriers dealing with an

Reefer Report: Yakima is the only market moving up right now

The big picture Florida’s Shortage-era rate spike is unwinding — fast. After a two-week surge that sent rates on key

Dry Van Report: Manufacturing hits a 4-year high. Here’s what it means for freight demand

U.S. manufacturing just posted its strongest reading since May 2022. The ISM Manufacturing PMI came in at 54.0% in May

Flatbed Report: Fewer hurricanes expected in 2026, but freight disruption risks remain

The early forecasts for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season are pointing toward a near-average or slightly below-average year for storm