TMS: DAT benchmark rates

Import DAT rate exports (CSV) and compare them against your carrier rates — see whether a quote sits above or below the market.

DAT is the benchmark data for US trucking rates — think of it as "the market price" for a lane: what a Chicago → Dallas van load costs on the open market right now. When a carrier quotes you a rate, the DAT benchmark tells you whether the quote is fair, high, or a bargain.

Where to find it: TMS menu → "DAT Benchmark Rates" (tms/dat-rates). There is no live API connection to DAT — you keep the benchmark fresh by importing rate files you export from DAT, whenever you like.

Import a DAT file#

1. Download the template: click "Template" to get a CSV template with a sample row — it shows exactly which columns the system expects.
2. Upload or paste: upload the CSV you exported from DAT, or paste its content straight into the box.
3. Map columns: match your CSV columns to the system fields — origin city/state, destination city/state, equipment (Van/Reefer/Flatbed), rate, rate per mile, miles, fuel surcharge, rate date.
4. Preview & confirm: the system checks every row first and shows which rows are valid and which have errors. Fix the errors, then confirm — only valid rows get imported.

Compare against the benchmark#

1. Type an origin and/or a destination keyword (e.g. "Chicago", "Dallas") — at least one is required — and optionally pick an equipment type.
2. Hit search: the left card shows the DAT market price — the latest rate, the average, the min–max range, and how many samples it is built on.
3. The right card shows your own carrier rates on the same lane (average, range, sample count), plus a difference tag: how much higher or lower your average is than the market, in percent.