The spike in diesel prices is starting to show up in the trucking market - with implications for intermodal as well. That's according to DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke, our guest on this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Dean goes over how the sudden increase in fuel related to the Iran conflict has changed the equation for trucking carriers, essentially eliminating margin especially for smaller, independent contractors. He tells us how elevated diesel prices may keep capacity (already a bit tight) out of the market, lead to a greater pursuit of contract versus spot rates, and send shippers toward intermodal to keep shipping costs down.

Speaking of capacity, Dean explains how many have exited the market due to FMCSA enforcement activities - and why a driver safety focus is a good thing in relation to a large portion of suspect training facilities being shuttered.

He also takes us through produce season, which areas are hot and which are not so much, the issues at both the Canadian and Mexican borders, port activity and why the reefer market may be especially tight at times this year. Plus, Dean and Rick recap their time at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference in Washington.

Get more from Dean through the DAT Freight & Analytics YouTube channel youtube.com/@datfreight and website www.dat.com/blog/author/dean-croke. And learn more about DAT iQ at www.dat.com/iq.

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