The American Trucking Associations’ For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.5% in October, following a revised decline of 0.8% during the previous month, according to new figures released Tuesday.

In October, the index registered 132.1, the second highest level on record after August. The September figure was originally reported as being unchanged from the month before.

 Compared with October 2013, the seasonally-adjusted index increased 4.5%, up from September’s 2.9% year-over-year gain. Year-to-date, compared with the same period last year, tonnage is up 3.2%.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, was 140.4 in September, 4.3% higher than the previous month. 

“Tonnage made a nice comeback after declining in September,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “The gain fits with the increases in retail sales and factory output during October, as well as with good anecdotal reports about the fall freight season.”

“The solid month-to-month gain, coupled with the acceleration in the year-over-year growth rate, is a good sign for the fourth quarter,” he said. “In addition, I’m expecting a solid fall freight season as holiday sales are forecasted to see the largest increase since 2011.”

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 69.1% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods, according to ATA.