Oregon-based DAT Freight & Analytics, a key player in North America’s trucking industry, has recently faced intermittent service outages due to what it describes as ‘external forces.’ The company, although confirming the disruptions, has chosen not to disclose the exact cause behind these disruptions.
The past ten days have witnessed truck drivers and brokers airing their grievances on social media regarding technical difficulties while using DAT’s platform. Reported issues include trouble logging into DAT One, DAT iQ, its benchmarking tool, and other crucial products.
In response to the situation, a DAT spokesperson informed FreightWaves that their engineering team has been tirelessly investigating and restoring services following the initial disruption. The company reassured users that all customer data remains secure.
Additionally, a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) by DAT highlighted ongoing difficulties encountered by users when accessing the company’s various products.
Acknowledging its significance in the freight industry, DAT emphasized its commitment to enhancing network reliability and fortifying defenses against external threats.
Amidst frustrations expressed by some customers who considered switching to DAT’s competitors, it is vital to recognize that the industry has a history of grappling with freight fraud and security breaches.
Truckstop.com, based in Idaho, introduced a series called Fraud Prevention Friday in May 2023 to combat fraud within the industry. This initiative was a response to a malware attack the platform faced in December 2019.
While some truckers opt to weather the storm and retain their loyalty to DAT, others are exploring alternative options amidst the service disruptions.
One anonymous truck driver expressed concerns about the impact of the ongoing outages on their business, admitting that the constant threat of being unable to access the system poses a significant financial and operational risk.
Elevated Focus on Fraud Prevention and Cybersecurity
In response to a purported security breach in February 2023, DAT has intensified its efforts towards fraud prevention and cybersecurity in the past year.
In January, DAT announced the appointment of Jeff Clementz as Chief Product Officer and Erika Voss as Vice President of Information Security to bolster product development and combat fraud. Clementz has a background as President and CEO of Shift Technologies, an e-commerce platform specializing in used vehicle transactions. On the other hand, Voss previously held the position of Vice President of Security and Engineering at Capital One.
Customers experiencing issues are encouraged to reach out to their account managers or DAT’s customer support team at 800-551-8847. Regular updates on outages are also available on status.dat.com.
One business owner shared his strategy of using both DAT and Truckstop platforms to diversify access to spot market freight and ensure his business continuity.
Despite the additional cost of utilizing multiple load boards, the owner-operator sees it as a worthwhile investment to leverage the strengths of both companies in finding freight and maintaining operational efficiency.
This is an ongoing development that demands close attention.
For more information, you can read the full post on FreightWaves.
