• Inland Distribution
  • September 29 - October 1, 2025 | The Westin Chicago River North

Dean Croke

DAT Freight & Analytics

Principal Analyst

Prior to joining DAT Solutions, Dean was Chief Insight Officer at FreightWaves where he led the freight market intelligence team of Market Experts. Prior to that he was Vice President of Data Products at Spireon where he helped develop new telematics data products in the trucking, passenger automotive and insurance markets. Dean also ran Lancer’s long-haul truck insurance business after spending many years as Vice President of Omnitracs Analytics (formerly Qualcomm) where he developed Data Science technologies including machine learning, complex business rules engines and data analytics for transportation companies.

Croke was one of the original founders of Atlanta-based FleetRisk Advisors (purchased by Qualcomm and now called now Omnitracs Analytics) and has 35 years of experience in data analytics, transportation, supply chain management, mining and insurance risk management. Originally from a family-owned and operated trucking business in Australia, Dean is still actively involved in the trucking business and having completed nearly 2 million miles in Australia as a long-distance truck driver, Croke also owns a 379 Peterbilt show truck known as “The Grumpy Pete” and still holds a U.S. Commercial Driver License(CDL) making him uniquely experienced in the field of data science, supply chain management, risk management and human performance.

Prior to FleetRisk Advisors Croke worked at Lancer Insurance in New York City in 2003 where he developed the widely acclaimed “Risk Never Sleeps” sleep management program for commercial drivers” – a unique approach to managing sleep as opposed to fatigue. Croke has held a number of senior positions at Boston-based Circadian Technologies Inc., global insurer Allianz, regional insurer OAMPS, and was also General Manager of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) where he played a key role in the development of the TruckSafe and Fatigue Management Program – both alternative compliance programs which have been evidenced in the FMCSA’s recent “Beyond Compliance” initiative.  

Sessions With Dean Croke

Tuesday, 1 October

  • 02:35pm - 03:20pm (CST) / 01/oct/2024 07:35 pm - 01/oct/2024 08:20 pm

    Trucking II: Why Small Carriers Matter Across Market Ups and Downs

    Trucking may have several large carriers that are “household” brand names, but the majority of trucking companies are small fleets, most of them with only one or two trucks. These carriers play a critical role in providing capacity for shippers small and large, most often through third-party brokerages. Post-pandemic, there are more small carriers in the market than ever before. With large carriers focusing more on dedicated, non-transactional accounts, shippers are increasingly reliant on smaller carriers, and they’re changing how they work with them. Technology aids this transformation. This panel will dig into the evolution of the small carrier market and the truckload landscape.