American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 2.1% in September after rising 1.7% in August. In September, the index equaled 113.2 (2015=100) compared with 115.6 in August.

“After increasing a total of 2.1% in July and August, tonnage fell by that amount in September,” says ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello, one of the most respected authorities on the freight economy who regularly speaks at the annual Food Shippers conference. “Freight has been very choppy this year, but despite the latest drop, tonnage is up 1.8% since hitting a low in January. No doubt, the climb up has been slow and difficult as manufacturing activity remains flat, but the trend is up, not down.”

August’s increase was revised down slightly from our September 24 press release.

Compared with September 2023, the index fell 0.9%, after rising 0.6% in August from a year earlier.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 111.6 in September, 6.4% below August. ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index is dominated by contract freight as opposed to traditional spot market freight.

In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015.

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 72.6% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 11.46 billion tons of freight in 2022. Motor carriers collected $940.8 billion, or 80.7% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.

ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 5th day of each month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.

Related Articles:

• Truck Tonnage Index Increased 1.8% in August 2024
• Truck Tonnage Index Rose .3% in July 2024
• Truck Tonnage Index Jumped 3.6% in May 2024
• Truck Tonnage Index Decreased 5.4% in March 2024
• Truck Tonnage Index Increased 4.3% in February 2024
• Truck Tonnage Index Decreased 3.5% in January 2024
• Truck Tonnage Index Increased 2.1% in December 2023
• Truck Tonnage Index Decreased 1% in November 2023
• Truck Tonnage Increases 1.1% in October 2023 

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