DAT Freight & Analytics (ROP) will showcase DAT iQ at the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo, May 4–6, 2026, in Orlando.
DAT iQ is trained on >$1 trillion in verified freight transactions and highlights current market gaps: dry van spot rates are >20% higher year-over-year while contract rates moved 5%, and available spot capacity has tightened to 2018 levels.
DAT will exhibit at Booth 230; a presentation is scheduled May 5, 12:05–12:25 p.m.
In the May 4 session, ROP declined 0.83%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Market Context
This announcement highlights DAT iQ’s role in helping shippers navigate rapid shifts in spot and con...
Analysis
This announcement highlights DAT iQ’s role in helping shippers navigate rapid shifts in spot and contract rates, tightening capacity, and changing fuel economics, backed by more than $1 trillion in freight transactions. It continues Roper’s stream of software- and analytics-focused updates in recent weeks. In evaluating the impact, investors might watch adoption of freight intelligence tools, how shippers adjust procurement strategies, and whether these offerings support longer-term growth alongside the strong recent financial results.
Key Figures
Dry van spot rate change:more than 20% higherContract rate change:less than 5%Historical capacity reference year:2018+5 more
Dry van spot rate change
more than 20% higher
Year-over-year change in dry van spot rates
Contract rate change
less than 5%
Year-over-year change in contract rates
Historical capacity reference year
2018
Spot capacity returning to 2018 tight-market levels
"Spot and contract rates are moving quickly. Dry van spot rates are running..."
Spot rates are the current prices or interest rates for buying or selling an asset or currency for immediate settlement, like the cash price you pay at a store today rather than a future promise to pay. Investors care because spot rates set the baseline for valuing investments, comparing returns across time, and pricing forward contracts or swaps; they reveal what the market demands now for taking on risk or providing liquidity.
spot freight capacitytechnical
"Spot freight capacity is contracting. Available spot capacity is returning..."
Spot freight capacity is the available space on ships, planes, trains or trucks that can be booked immediately for single, short-term shipments rather than under long-term contracts. It matters to investors because changes in this on-demand supply—like a sudden shortage or surplus—drive short-term shipping prices, affect carriers’ revenue and margins, and can quickly change costs for companies that depend on moving goods, similar to how last-minute airline ticket availability affects travel prices.
routing guidestechnical
"when a tighter market left shippers exposed when routing guides failed."
Routing guides are the detailed instructions a company gives to suppliers and carriers about how to ship products, including preferred carriers, packaging, labeling, routing, and invoicing procedures — like a logistics playbook that standardizes how deliveries are handled. Investors care because routing guides shape shipping costs, delivery speed and reliability, inventory levels, and compliance risk; well-designed guides can lower expenses and prevent stockouts, while poor guides can increase costs and disrupt operations.
bid seasonfinancial
"Shippers heading into bid season with last cycle's assumptions risk locking in rates..."
Bid season is a concentrated period when multiple buyers, suppliers or investors submit formal offers for the same set of contracts, assets or corporate mandates—think of many people bidding on lots at an auction. For investors, it matters because heightened competition in a short window can push prices, contract terms or deal structures in predictable directions, revealing market demand, likely valuation outcomes and potential risks to revenue or cost expectations.
P&Lfinancial
"Procurement is increasingly evaluated on cost avoidance—catching costs before they hit the P&L."
A P&L, short for profit and loss statement, is a snapshot of a company's money in and money out over a set period that shows whether the business made a profit or suffered a loss. Think of it like a household budget or a scorecard: it shows sales, costs and the bottom-line result, helping investors judge whether the company is earning enough, managing expenses, and likely to grow or face financial stress.
benchmarksfinancial
"it gives shippers the market visibility, benchmarks, and forecasts they need..."
Benchmarks are standard measures—often broad market indexes or preset targets—used to judge how well an investment, fund or strategy is performing compared with a common yardstick. Like timing runners against the lead car in a race, benchmarks help investors see whether returns come from skill or simply following the market, guide portfolio choices, reveal added risk or costs, and set realistic performance expectations.
forecastsfinancial
"The data, the benchmarks, and the forecasts are available now..."
Forecasts are forward-looking estimates of a company’s future performance—such as sales, profits, or cash flow—based on current information and assumptions. They matter to investors because they shape expectations about value and risk, much like a weather forecast helps decide whether to carry an umbrella: optimistic forecasts can lift share prices, while disappointing ones can trigger selling or reassessment of investment decisions.
PORTLAND, Ore., May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DAT Freight & Analytics will showcase how shippers can use DAT iQ to anticipate freight market trends and manage volatility at the 2026 Gartner® Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo™, taking place May 4–6 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Shippers are navigating shifts that last year’s procurement playbooks were not built to handle. DAT iQ, the company's freight intelligence platform, helps them see those shifts clearly:
Spot and contract rates are moving quickly. Dry van spot rates are running more than 20% higher than a year ago, while contract rates have moved less than 5%—a gap that signals a market turn.
Spot freight capacity is contracting. Available spot capacity is returning to levels last seen in 2018, when a tighter market left shippers exposed when routing guides failed. Shippers heading into bid season with last cycle's assumptions risk locking in rates that the market is about to move past.
Fuel economics are shifting. Carriers are recapturing far more of the rising trucking fuel cost on the contract side than on the spot side. This shift in fuel cost management is fundamentally changing how they bid and cover loads.
Intelligence is a CFO-level concern: Procurement is increasingly evaluated on cost avoidance—catching costs before they hit the P&L. In this volatile cost environment, freight market intelligence isn’t just for transportation analysts. CFOs are looking for reliable data and analytics, too.
Ready-now intelligence for shippers
DAT iQ is built for that environment. Trained on more than $1 trillion in verified freight transactions, it gives shippers the market visibility, benchmarks, and forecasts they need to validate the rates they are paying, identify where they are overpaying, and plan freight procurement and capacity strategies with confidence.
“While many enterprises are still assembling the data foundation they need to put AI to work on procurement, DAT iQ is a ready-now solution for shippers,” said Patrick Pretorius, GM of the Shipper Business at DAT Freight & Analytics. “The data, the benchmarks, and the forecasts are available now, and they are built on real market transactions, not assumptions.”
Where to find DAT: DAT will exhibit its DAT iQ solutions for shippers at Booth 230.
Speaking at Gartner: DAT’s Dr. Chris Caplice, chief scientist, and Dean Croke, principal market analyst, will present “DAT Freight & Analytics: Reading the Road Ahead” on Tuesday, May 5, from 12:05 to 12:25 p.m. The session will examine where the truckload market is heading and how business cycles, policy shifts, and structural changes are reshaping pricing, procurement timing, and lane strategy.
About Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo
Dynamic by Design. Renew, Rethink and Recode Next-Gen Supply Chains. CSCOs are called to predict disruptions before they happen and to achieve unprecedented visibility and transparency. They are leading through the rapid pace of AI and technological advancement, enabling faster data-driven decisions to fuel growth and protect margin. Join us at Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo in Orlando to inspire ideas, fuel bold experimentation, and accelerate transformation – by design.
GARTNER and SUPPLY CHAIN SYMPOSIUM/XPO are registered trademarks and service marks of Gartner Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates DAT One, North America's largest truckload freight marketplace; DAT iQ, the industry's leading freight data analytics service; and Trucker Tools, the leader in load visibility. Shippers, transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations, and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights, informed by nearly 700,000 daily load posts and a database exceeding $1 trillion in freight market transactions. Founded in 1978, DAT is a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, DAT continues to set the standard for innovation in the trucking and logistics industry. Visit dat.com for more information.
Contact
Georgia Jablon Corporate Communications, DAT Freight & Analytics georgia.jablon@dat.com 904-305-6454
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What will DAT Freight & Analytics (ROP) present at Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo on May 5, 2026?
DAT will present market analysis and forecasts for the truckload market in a May 5, 12:05–12:25 p.m. session. According to DAT, the talk will cover pricing, procurement timing, and lane strategy based on DAT iQ intelligence.
How is DAT iQ (ROP) trained and what data scale supports its freight intelligence?
DAT iQ is trained on more than $1 trillion in verified freight transactions to generate benchmarks and forecasts. According to DAT, that dataset underpins visibility into spot and contract rate dynamics and carrier fuel recovery patterns.
What spot versus contract rate differences does DAT report for dry van freight in 2026?
DAT reports dry van spot rates are running >20% higher year-over-year while contract rates moved less than 5%. According to DAT, that gap signals a market turn important for shippers planning bids and contracts.
Where and when can investors or shippers meet DAT at the Gartner event in May 2026?
DAT will exhibit its DAT iQ solutions at Booth 230 during May 4–6, 2026 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. According to DAT, staff will be available to demonstrate benchmarks and forecasting tools.
What capacity trends does DAT highlight that shippers should know before bid season?
DAT highlights that available spot capacity is contracting to levels last seen in 2018, raising routing-guide risk. According to DAT, shippers using last cycle assumptions may lock rates that the market is about to move past.