specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: DAT Freight & Analytics
providerId: dat-freight
created: '2026-07-05'
modified: '2026-07-05'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Freight
- Load Board
- RateView
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of DAT spend. DAT API access is not billed as a standalone metered
  product - it rides on a DAT One product subscription. The dominant cost drivers
  are per-user load board and RateView subscription seats (Combo Pro or Combo
  Premium for RateView), a possible one-time integration setup fee, and, where
  applicable, transaction fees on booked loads. Because pricing is quote-based
  and the developer portal is account-gated, per-unit rates are not reconciled
  here and should come from a DAT sales quote.
notes: >-
  Third-party estimates (setup ~$500-$1,000; ~$50-$300/user/month; ~0.5-1% per
  load) are not confirmed DAT list prices. Cost is driven by seat count and
  product tier rather than by API call volume.
sources:
- https://www.dat.com/api-integration
- https://one.support.dat.com/9-troubleshooting-2734b01a/service-accounts-and-restful-api-faq-7c689bc5
- https://appscrip.com/blog/load-board-integration-with-dat/
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: DAT Freight & Analytics
serviceCategory: Freight and Logistics Data
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription-Based
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Purchase
  - Usage
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: DAT One / RateView
  ServiceCategory: Freight and Logistics Data
  ProviderName: DAT Freight & Analytics
  PublisherName: DAT Freight & Analytics
  InvoiceIssuerName: DAT Freight & Analytics
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Purchase
  PricingCategory: Subscription-Based
meters:
- name: load_board_seats
  description: Per-user DAT One load board subscription seats enabling load search and posting APIs.
  unit: seats
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - user
- name: rateview_seats
  description: RateView Combo Pro/Premium seats enabling the Rate Lookup API.
  unit: seats
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - user
- name: setup_fee
  description: One-time integration/setup charge (estimate; confirm with DAT).
  unit: contracts
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: booked_loads
  description: Loads booked (e.g. via BookNow) where transaction fees may apply.
  unit: loads
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track seat counts by product (load board vs RateView) and tier; attribute the one-time setup fee.
- name: Allocation
  description: Map load board and RateView seats to the teams and workflows that consume the APIs.
- name: Optimization
  description: Right-size seat counts to active integration users; choose RateView Combo Pro vs Premium by required rate history and analytics depth.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign an owner for the DAT contract; review seat utilization and any per-load transaction fees against budget each billing cycle.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com