Trucking activity leapt forward in the United States in February, rising to its highest point in three years, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) reported Tuesday in its advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.
ATA reports freight tonnage was up 2.6% last month, a leap forward more than three times larger than the industry’s 0.7% boost in January.
ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello says the leap forward is unquestionably positive, but also is somewhat misleading.
“February’s robust gain is great to see, but the size of the gain is likely magnified due to lower industry capacity,” he says. “With that said, particularly after a very prolonged freight recession, improving volumes in any manner is welcomed.”
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ATA states its index was 116.2 in in February, up from a revised 113.3 rating in January. ATA states its index is up 2.1% year over year and February’s monthly boost was its strongest year-over-year gain since October 2022. The index also is up 1.4% in the first two months against 2025. Last year the index was flat against 2024 in January and February.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 106.9 in February, 1.5% below January’s reading of 108.5.
