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  • Dog Days & Data: Dean Croke on Summer Freight Trends and Produce Slump

    Dog Days & Data: Dean Croke on Summer Freight Trends and Produce Slump
    2025/07/17

    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 are hinting at what’s to come. From “The Grumpy Pete” show truck to serious spot market strategy, Dean delivers insights every driver can use to navigate the dog days of summer.

    Instagram: @thegrumpypete

    Facebook: Dean Croke

    TikTok: @thegrumpypete
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    39 分
  • Trucking Shows & Trucking Lows: Dean Croke on the Highs and Lows of Trucking

    Trucking Shows & Trucking Lows: Dean Croke on the Highs and Lows of Trucking
    2025/07/14

    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, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone who lives and breathes life on the road.
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    10 分
  • The Produce Slump, Manufacturing Stalls, and the Ozempic Effect: Trucking's New Reality

    The Produce Slump, Manufacturing Stalls, and the Ozempic Effect: Trucking's New Reality
    2025/07/03
    On this edition of DAT Guy with Dean Croke on Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac and Dean dive into why the 2025 produce season fizzled—especially in California and Florida—and what that means for dry van and reefer rates across the country. They unpack how shifting consumer habits, including the rise of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, are quietly reshaping freight demand, slashing grocery spending, and reducing overall food consumption—potentially cutting hundreds of thousands of truckloads from the market. Dean also digs into the latest on U.S. manufacturing: while there’s a slight uptick in June, uncertainty from tariffs, geopolitical instability, and stalled demand continues to weigh down production and planning. With produce volumes falling, reefer rates hitting decade-lows, and labor shortages on California farms due to immigration crackdowns, Dean connects the dots on how macro trends are stacking up to make this one of the strangest summers yet in freight.
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    27 分
  • Dean Croke on Freight Trends, Summer Shipping, and the 100 Deadliest Days

    Dean Croke on Freight Trends, Summer Shipping, and the 100 Deadliest Days
    2025/06/20
    On this episode of Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac sits down with Dean Croke, former owner-operator, current Principal Market Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, and owner of the legendary Peterbilt show truck The Grumpy Pete. With over 2 million miles of over-the-road experience, Dean brings firsthand knowledge and data-driven insight to today’s freight landscape. Topics covered in this in-depth conversation include: Why May imports saw a sharp decline after months of front-loading to avoid tariffs How grilling season continues to drive demand despite inflation and changing consumer habits The slower-than-expected start to produce season and what it means for reefer freight and rates A look at the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” — the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when fatal crashes, especially among teen drivers, spike dramatically From container ports to cookouts, and produce loads to road safety, this episode connects the dots between market trends and life behind the wheel. Don’t miss this timely conversation with one of trucking’s most trusted analysts. Road Gang Radio streams live on RadioNemo, iHeartRadio, YouTube Live, and Facebook Live. Subscribe for more industry insights and on-the-road stories
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    43 分