Refrigeratedtransporter 3351 Ata Tonnage July 2018

Truck Tonnage Index reflects robust growth in July tally

Aug. 22, 2018
Learn more about the ATA July Truck Tonnage Index resurging 1.9% after falling 0.5% in June.

American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 1.9% in July  2018 after decreasing 0.5% in June. In July, the index equaled 115 (2015=100), up from 112.8 in June.

ATA revised the June decline from the originally reported 0.4% to 0.5%.

Compared with July 2017, the SA index jumped 8.6%, up from June’s 7.7% year-over-year increase. Year-to-date, compared with the same period in 2017, tonnage advanced 8%, far outpacing the annual gain of 3.8% in 2017.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 114.6 in July, which was 1.2% below the previous month (116.1).

“Truck freight remained very strong in July when accounting for normal seasonality,” said Bob Costello, ATA chief economist. “Both the month-to-month and year-over-year gains were the largest in three months. This robust growth stems from solid manufacturing, retail sales and construction activity. The industry’s biggest challenge isn’t finding enough freight, but recruiting and retaining quality drivers.”

Trucking serves as a barometer of the US economy, representing 70.2% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 10.77 billion tons of freight in 2017. Motor carriers collected $700.1 billion, or 79.3% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.

Voice your opinion!

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

Sponsored Recommendations

Help drivers improve habits with tools that actually change behavior. This guide shows how Geotab Vitality helps fleets coach with data, reward improvement and build better habits...
Smarter fleets, safer roads—uncover how innovative technology is revolutionizing the transportation industry and making fleets safer and more efficient for everyone.
Unlock the secrets to smarter eet routing - discover how dynamic route optimization can cut costs, boost efciency, and help you adapt to real-world challenges.
Discover how eets can evaluate, select, and implement trailer telematics with condence. This step-by-step guide walks you through the entire process, so you can improve visibility...