DAT Guy
DAT Chief Analyst Dean Croke engages in a wide ranging conversation that looks at the effects that local, national, and global events have on freight markets. From international crises to seasonal festivals, the segment follows seemingly unrelated events and ties them back into the trucking markets. Sleeping patterns of teenagers, tensions in the Strait of Taiwan, and seasonal orders of cardboard boxes are among the many topics Dean and host Jimmy Mac track to the ultimate destination of profitability in trucking. Dean loves to say, "you're only as good as your partners," and DAT Guy is a podcast partnership worth the listen.
Episodes
Jimmy Mac and co-host Dean Croke dive into the latest transportation and freight market trends with Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics. Dean shares insights on warehouse growth, e-commerce logistics, emerging freight markets, data centers, and how AI and technology are reshaping the trucking industry.
Discover how shifts in freight, delivery methods, and supply chain infrastructure are creating new oppor...
Jimmy Mac sits down with Dean Croke for a detailed look at seasonal freight pressure in the Pacific Northwest. Dean draws on his background as a former owner operator with more than two million miles on the road and his work as Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight and Analytics. He explains how Christmas tree season creates fast shifts in demand, tighter capacity, and higher rates across key lanes.
Dean walks you through helicopt...
In this edition of DAT Guy on Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac and co-host Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, break down the latest trends shaping the freight market this November. With Dean’s decades of real-world experience — from his 2 million over-the-road miles as an owner-operator to his role leading analytics at DAT — this is the deep dive every carrier, broker, and shipper needs.
Dean and Jimmy u...
On this week’s edition of The DAT Guy, Jimmy Mac is joined by Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, for an in-depth look at the trends shaping freight, trucking, and the broader transportation economy.
Dean brings his unique perspective as a former owner-operator with over 2 million miles under his belt, offering data-backed insights every driver can use.
This week’s discussion covers:
Non-Domicile Enforceme...
On this week’s DAT Guy with Dean Croke, host Jimmy Mac and Dean dive into the latest trucking and freight market trends, breaking down the numbers that matter most to drivers and carriers.
Topics Covered:
Regional Rate Roundup
Dry van spot rates inch up $0.02/mile, averaging $1.67/mile — $0.05 higher than last year
Midwest spot rates remain flat at $1.87/mile, but still $0.20 above the national average
DAT’s top 50 lanes dipped $0.01/mi...
On this week’s DAT Guy with Dean Croke on Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac is joined by Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics.
Dean breaks down two big stories shaping the freight market:
Lumber prices flash warning signs for flatbed truckers as production cuts across North America could pull 12,000–14,000 loads off the market.
Companies like Interfor and Domtar are slashing shifts, shutting down mills, and i...
In this edition of In-Depth Analysis of Market Trends and Transportation, host Jimmy Mac is joined by Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics.
Dean—an ex-owner-operator with over 2 million miles on the road and former owner of the iconic “Grumpy Pete” Peterbilt show truck—breaks down the latest freight trends, market movements, and what they mean for drivers, carriers, and shippers alike.
Topics Covered:
Curren...
On this edition of DAT Guy, Road Gang Radio’s in-depth market segment, hosts welcome Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, to break down the latest freight and transportation trends.
Main Themes:
Will freight recovery finally arrive in Q2 2026?
Record July imports—but a freight crash may be around the corner.
Truckload demand weakens despite year-over-year gains in certain sectors.
Drayage carriers and logisti...
In this episode of Road Gang Radio, Jimmy Mac welcomes Dean Croke, Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, for another in-depth installment of “DAT Guy.”
This week, Dean tackles the hot-button issue of English Language Proficiency (ELP) enforcement—what it really means, what the data says, and why its actual impact is negligible despite the noise. He also dives into the persistent problem of truckload overcapacity, soft...
Dean Croke—former owner-operator, 2-million-mile road warrior, and current Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics—joins Jimmy Mac on Road Gang Radio for a data-packed look at the state of freight. With produce season officially wrapping and reefer rates starting their seasonal slide, Dean breaks down what the numbers are telling us, where the pain points are (looking at you, California lettuce), and how Midwest markets...
On this segment of Nemo Nation, hosts Dave Nemo and Jimmy Mac sit down with longtime industry analyst and storyteller Dean Croke to talk all things trucking. From the energy of the nation’s biggest trucking shows to the tough truths behind freight recessions and driver challenges, Dean brings his signature insight and data-backed wisdom to the mic. Whether you’re parked at the show or rolling through a quiet stretch of highway, thi...
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