Truck Tonnage Index Shows Robust Growth in April
The April Truck Tonnage Index rebounded from a dip in March, indicating a robust freight environment, according to the American Trucking Associations.
The ATA Truck Tonnage Index has shown an average annual gain of 8% so far this year - a good sign for the economy.
Source: ATA
The April Truck Tonnage Index rebounded from a dip in March, indicating a robust freight environment, according to the American Trucking Associations.
ATA’s truck tonnage index represents the trucking industry’s share of domestic freight transportation and is used as a barometer for the U.S. economy as a whole.
The index increased 2.2% from the previous month, equaling a reading of 112.5 and continuing a steady upward trajectory in 2018. The index has increased 9.5% compared to April 2017, and is averaging an 8% annual gain so far in 2018, easily outpacing the 3.8% average from last year.
Without seasonal adjustment, the April Truck Tonnage Index equaled 109.2, which is actually 4.8% below the previous month’s 114.7.
“Truck freight tonnage remains robust; I don’t think we’ve even seen the traditional spring freight season yet. Plus, the produce season was also delayed due to a cold snap in early spring,” said Bob Costello, ATA chief economist. “Longer-term, strength in consumption, factory output, and construction should keep truck freight tonnage solid for the quarters ahead.”
Related: Truckload Linehaul, Intermodal Rates Hover Near Record Highs
More Fleet Management
Deen Albert: Let Automation Do the Math, People Make the Decisions
HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Deen Albert makes sure people are still at the heart of operations at Grand Island Express, even while adopting artificial intelligence tools. AI-assisted dispatch helped boost revenue 25% with the same number of trucks.
Read More →
Trimble’s New AI Agent Takes Aim at Fleet Back-Office Busywork
Arc Agent works across Trimble TMS products to automate repetitive tasks such as freight orders, maintenance, invoices, fuel costs and more.
Read More →
How HDT’s 2026 Truck Fleet Innovators Are Rethinking Fleet Operations
Meet five trucking leaders who are challenging assumptions, solving operational problems, and putting innovative ideas to work.
Read More →
Tight Trucking Capacity Pushes Rates Higher Even as Freight Volumes Fall
“Spot rates moving ahead of contract rates have historically signaled a tightening market, but we haven’t seen a capacity-driven market quite like this one,” said DAT's Dean Croke.
Read More →
Import Cargo’s Early Peak Season is Winding Down
There was an early start to peak season this year at the nation's gateway ports, as retailers brought in merchandise ahead of tariff changes in late July and responded to other supply chain uncertainties,
Read More →
Fewer Cargo Thefts, Bigger Losses: Criminals Target Higher-Value Loads
CargoNet says organized theft rings are stealing fewer shipments but choosing more valuable freight, including metals and technology, resulting in record losses.
Read More →
How Innovative Trucking Leaders Turn Change Into an Advantage
As the pace of change accelerates in trucking, the fleets that adapt best have more than the latest technology. They have cultures that embrace improvement.
Read More →
Freight Broker Bonds Just Got Harder to Get. Here's What That Means for Your Fleet.
When it gets harder for a freight broker to prove they are financially sound, the ones who cannot clear that bar get pushed out of the market. And those are exactly the brokers who used to leave motor carriers holding the bag.
Read More →
Long-Awaited Canadian Border Bridge to Open in Detroit
For trucking, the bridge opening should offer immediate improvements in efficiency and reliability, with new customs facilities, expanded inspection capacity, and direct freeway-to-freeway connections.
Read More →
Aurora Rolls Out Next Generation of Driverless Trucks for Commercial Freight
Aurora's latest autonomous trucks it's rolling out with International feature lower-cost hardware designed for a million miles as the company expands commercial driverless freight operations across the U.S. Sun Belt.
Read More →