ATA truck tonnage fell 2.1% in September

Tps Logo Online Headshot
Updated Oct 24, 2024
The American Trucking Associations' Truck Tonnage Index in a chart form.

The American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 2.1% in September after rising 1.7% in August, the associations announced Tuesday. 

"Freight has been very choppy this year, but despite the latest drop, tonnage is up 1.8% since hitting a low in January," says ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. "No doubt, the climb has been slow and difficult as manufacturing activity remains flat, but the trend is up, not down." 

 The ATA revised August's increase down slightly in the latest release. The index is not seasonally adjusted and represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets. It is dominated by contract freight as opposed to spot market freight, the ATA says. 

ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership. It says trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 72.6% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. In 2022, trucks hauled 11.46 billion tons of freight, collecting $940.8 billion. 

Learn how to move your used trucks faster
With unsold used inventory depreciating at a rate of more than 2% monthly, efficient inventory turnover is a must for dealers. Download this eBook to access proven strategies for selling used trucks faster.
Download
Used Truck Guide Cover