The American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.5% in February after falling 4.6% in January. January's decrease was more than the preliminary 4% drop ATA reported Feb. 28.
The latest gain put the SA index at 119.3 (2000=100), up from January's level of 118.7. Compared with February 2011, the SA index was up 5.5%, better than January's 3.1% increase.
The not-seasonally-adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 112.9 in February, which was 1.3% above the previous month.
"Fleets told us that February was decent and that played out in the numbers," says ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. Costello notes that February's month-to-month increase was sixth in the past seven months.
"I'm still expecting continued truck tonnage growth going forward," he says. "Rising manufacturing activity and temperate consumer spending should be helped a little from an improving housing market."
ATA Truck Tonnage Increased 0.5% in February
The American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.5% in February after falling 4.6% in January. January's decrease was more than the preliminary 4% drop ATA reported Feb. 28
More Fleet Management
Inside Modern Fleet Safety: AI, Cameras & Speed Control at K&B Transportation
How a former commercial vehicle enforcement officer turned director of safety at K&B Transportation is embracing real-world safety technology.
Read More →
How Fleets Can Avoid Equipment Blind Spots in Disaster Response
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 →
AI Security Risks for Trucking Fleets: What to Know About Deepfakes and Agentic AI
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 →
FMCSA’s Motus System Is Coming. What Fleets Need to Know Now
The long-awaited registration system promises a single portal — and tighter fraud controls.
Read More →
Cargo Theft Incidents Fall in Q1, but Organized Crime and Impersonation Drive New Risks
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 →
Nominations Open for HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026
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 →
New Trojan Driver Cargo Theft Scam Bypasses Carrier Vetting Systems
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 →
March Truck Tonnage Posts Strongest Annual Gain Since 2022
A modest sequential increase capped the strongest quarterly performance in years, signaling continued freight momentum in early 2026.
Read More →
Ohio Turnpike Targets $5.2 Million in Unpaid Tolls from Trucking Firms
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 →
'Beyond Compliance,' Regulations, Driver Coaching on ATRI’s 2026 Research List
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 →