Trucking activity in the United States increased 0.8% in September after falling 0.2% in August, according to the American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.

“Truck tonnage ended the quarter on a better note, but weakness in July and August pushed the third quarter reading into negative territory both sequentially and from a year earlier,” says ATA's Chief Economist Bob Costello, who regularly speaks at the annual Food Shippers conference. “We are seeing soft tonnage levels, but capacity is still contracting, which is leading to a better market for motor carriers.”

In September, the ATA advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 114, up from 113.1 in August. The index, which is based on 2015 as 100, was unchanged from the same month in 2025, which was better than August’s 1.3% decline. Year-to-date, compared with the same period in 2025, tonnage is up 0.9% due to robust year-over-year increases from February through April.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 114.8 in September, 1.4% below August’s reading of 116.4.

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 72.7% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 11.27 billion tons of freight in 2024. Motor carriers collected $906 billion, or 76.9% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.

Both indices are dominated by contract freight, as opposed to traditional spot market freight. The tonnage index is calculated 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 Fell 0.5% in August
• Truck Tonnage Fell 1% in July
• Truck Tonnage Rose 0.1% in June
• Truck Tonnage Fell 2% in May
• Truck Tonnage Unchanged in April
  

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