MENU
SEARCHAmerican Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased in May following two consecutive months of decreases.
Source: ATA
American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased in May following two consecutive months of decreases.
The index was up 2.7% for the month equaling a reading of 139, up from 135.3 in April when the index fell 1.7%. Compared to May 2015, the SA index jumped 5.7%. From January through May, the Truck Tonnage Index is up 4% compared to the same period in 2015.
Despite the positive month of truck tonnage, ATA analysts were weary of calling it a new trend in the trucking industry’s health.
“Following two consecutive decreases totaling 6%, May was a nice increase in truck tonnage,” said Bob Costello, ATA chief economist. “Better consumer spending in April and May certainly helped, but economic growth remains mixed and I’d expect the recent choppy pattern in tonnage to continue for the next quarter or two.”
Without seasonal adjustment, the change in tonnage actually hauled by fleets equaled 138.9 in May. That was 2.4% above April’s 135.6 reading.
“We recently received good news on the inventory cycle, with the total business inventory-to-sales ratio declining for the first time in nearly a year,” said Costello. “While one month doesn’t make a trend, this was good news for the trucking industry.”
How a former commercial vehicle enforcement officer turned director of safety at K&B Transportation is embracing real-world safety technology.
Read More →
When the unexpected happens, how you react to, and deal with operational blind spots is critical. Here’s how to keep you recovery on track, when nothing is normal.
Read More →
As fleets adopt artificial intelligence for routing, maintenance, and load matching, new security risks are emerging. Learn where the vulnerabilities are and how to put the right controls in place.
Read More →
The long-awaited registration system promises a single portal — and tighter fraud controls.
Read More →
CargoNet reports fewer supply chain crime events to start 2026. But losses hold steady as organized crime shifts tactics toward impersonation schemes and high-value goods.
Read More →
Heavy Duty Trucking is searching for forward-looking leaders at trucking fleets as nominations for HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators 2026. Deadline is May 15.
Read More →
Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.
Read More →
A modest sequential increase capped the strongest quarterly performance in years, signaling continued freight momentum in early 2026.
Read More →
More than 300 carriers across 26 states have been sent to collections as the Ohio Turnpike cracks down on toll evasion and delinquent payments.
Read More →
The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.
Read More →
