DAT Solutions Targets Shipper Volatility with Freight Intelligence at Gartner Symposium
Event summary
- DAT Freight & Analytics will showcase its DAT iQ freight intelligence platform at the 2026 Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo in Orlando, May 4–6.
- Dry van spot rates are up 20% year-over-year, while contract rates have moved less than 5%, signaling a market shift.
- Spot freight capacity is tightening, returning to 2018 levels when shippers faced routing guide failures.
- Carriers are recapturing more fuel costs on the contract side than spot, altering bidding strategies.
The big picture
DAT Solutions is positioning its freight intelligence platform as a critical tool for shippers navigating unprecedented market volatility. The divergence between spot and contract rates, coupled with tightening capacity, suggests a structural shift in freight pricing dynamics. As procurement teams face pressure to avoid costs before they hit P&L statements, real-time market intelligence is becoming a CFO-level priority. DAT's move to highlight these trends at a high-profile Gartner event underscores the growing strategic importance of data-driven decision-making in supply chain management.
What we're watching
- Market Timing
- Whether shippers can adjust procurement strategies fast enough to avoid overpaying as spot rates diverge from contract rates.
- Fuel Cost Impact
- How carriers' shifting fuel cost management will reshape bidding dynamics and load coverage strategies.
- Data-Driven Procurement
- The pace at which CFOs adopt freight market intelligence as a cost-avoidance tool beyond traditional transportation teams.