ATA: Tonnage jumped in December

Seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage jumped 3.9% in December but fell 5.5% compared with December 2005, according to a report released by the American Trucking Assns. (ATA).

ATA attributed the increase to more shipments later in the fall freight season—a phenomenon that some experts say is the result of holiday shopping shifting to later in the season thanks to the rise in Internet shopping as well as gift cards.

“This trend is likely to continue in the years ahead,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello. “It is important to remember that year-over-year comparisons are difficult due to the boom in heavy-construction freight during the fall of 2005 as the rebuilding of hurricane-struck areas in the Gulf Coast commenced.”