Tonnage drops 0.9% in April

June 1, 2005
Tonnage drops 0.9% in April

The American Trucking Assns. (ATA) said its seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index decreased 0.9% in April, marking the third consecutive monthly reduction. ATA said this corresponds to anecdotal reports from its members that tonnage was “mediocre” in March and April.

Compared to April 2004, tonnage fell 0.3%, marking the first year-over-year decrease since November 2001. ATA noted that freight demand was unusually robust last April, however.

On a positive note, year-to-date tonnage increased 3.9% compared with the same period last year.

“The economy has decelerated some from last year, but this year has still been good in terms of growth and demand,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello. “There continues to be a favorable supply-demand market and we expect to see a strong fall freight season.”

Sponsored Recommendations

Way Beyond Weight: 5 Ways Truck Weights Affect Fleet Operations

Truck weights affect everything from highway safety and operational costs to back-office efficiency. Here’s how.

Heavy-Duty Maintenance Checklist

A maintenance checklist can help ensure you hit everything necessary during an inspection. Check out our free downloadable checklist to help streamline your repairs.

Five Ways a Little Data Can Save Your Company Millions

While most trucking and logistics companies rely on cellular to keep their work fleet connected, satellite has the ability to connect anywhere and through small data transmission...

Fleet Case Study: 15% YOY Growth for ITDS

Learn how this small trucking company scaled significantly and maintained outstanding customer service without adding additional people. Sylectus TMS can automate operations and...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!