Freightvine

This week’s guests are my two DAT iQ colleagues: Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics, and Dean Croke, Principal Analyst. This is our annual end of the year podcast where we revisit our predictions from last year, discuss the major issues of the current year, and take our best guesses as to what will happen next year. We did not do that well in our annual predictions for 2025 - we all expected dry van spot rates to increase by anywhere from 3 to 12% when in fact they dropped by more than 2%. Tariff uncertainty and weak demand were noted as the primary culprits. Ken aptly described 2025 as "a long protracted sigh." Dean expressed the surprising influence of social media on regulatory policy, as a questionable TikTok video led to an executive order and strengthened FMCSA policy regarding English language proficiency and CDL standards. This led to predictions that 2026 will bring a gradual recovery mainly due to the exodus of capacity rather than any increase in demand. The conversation concludes with predictions for 2026 dry van spot rates, with forecasts ranging from an increase of 3% to 10% by the end of the year. Let’s see how we do!

In this episode, we’re joined by Corey Klujsza, VP of Pricing and Procurement Strategy at RXO. With experience spanning Coyote Logistics, UPS, and now RXO, Corey brings deep insight into how the truckload market works. He walks us through RXO’s quarterly market analysis framework—the RXO Curve—which tracks year-over-year truckload rate changes to understand market cycles and risk. We dig into the logistics business cycle from equilibrium to peak and through the downturn, examine current market conditions, and discuss factors like tariff uncertainty, the flat market since Q2 2023, and the ongoing gap between spot and contract rates. Corey also weighs in on whether technology and faster information flow are changing the fundamentals of supply and demand or simply speeding up how the market reacts. If you work in freight procurement, carrier relations, or market analysis, this episode offers valuable perspective on today’s truckload market.

In this episode, we welcome Tim Gagnon (VP of Analytics and Data Science) and Mark Albrecht (VP of AI and Enterprise Strategy) from C.H. Robinson to discuss how AI is transforming the freight industry. We explore the evolution of AI—from traditional methods like machine learning and robotic process automation, to generative AI, and now Agentic AI, which can plan, use tools, learn from past mistakes, and act like a true assistant. C.H. Robinson’s unique approach, “Lean AI,” aligns operational discipline with AI priorities, focusing on high-leverage initiatives while keeping customers and carriers at the center. They also limit AI agency in critical areas like order building to maintain reliability and low failure rates. This episode is a deep dive into how AI is fundamentally rewiring logistics and a must-listen for anyone interested in the state-of-the-practice AI in freight transportation.

This week’s guest is John Motley, the founder and CEO of LogNet. LogNet was founded over 30 years ago and in our conversation we discussed the evolution of supply chain technology over that time. John recounts LogNet's origins as an early pioneer, being the first client-server solution to utilize SQL databases on PCs, focusing specifically on visibility across order, transportation, and warehouse management. Today, LogNet’s core technology centers on a "large trade model" which is similar to a large language model but based on graph theory with attributes like weight, cube, and carrier data. We also discuss how AI is replacing traditional User Interfaces by fostering conversational, agentic solutions and moving past aesthetically pleasing but often useless features like maps. This episode is essential for understanding how importers and retailers can leverage advanced technology to mitigate volatility from tariffs, geopolitical challenges, and other disruptions and keep the majority of their freight on what John refers to as the Happy Path.

This week’s guest is Patrick Pretorius, Senior Director of Enterprise Shipper sales at DAT. Patrick provides unique insight, drawing on his extensive international experience that began in Cape Town, South Africa, and included working across multiple continents with steamship lines, global 3PLs, and other transportation providers. In our conversation Patrick outlines the distinctions between managing ocean and truck shipping, particularly regarding the challenges of treating freight as a commodity. He addresses how shippers are transforming procurement by focusing on continuity of supply, rationalizing carrier bases, making strategic shifts in their allotment of asset-based carriers and brokers, and leveraging dynamic pricing technology (such as the "buy now" or "best offer" approach) to execute shipments.