Trucking activity ticked up in September 0.8% after falling 0.2% in August, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) says.
"Truck tonnage ended the quarter on a better note, but weakness in July and August pushed the third quarter reading into negative territory both sequentially and from a year earlier," says Bob Costello, ATA's chief economist. "We are seeing soft tonnage levels but capacity is still contracting, which is leading to a better market for motor carriers."
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September's For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index came in at 114, up from August's 113.1. Year over year, the index was unchanged, improving from August's 1.3% decline. Year-to-date compared to 2025, tonnage is up 0.9%.
The index is based on 2015 as 100.
The not seasonally adjusted index calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled. It was 114.8 in September, down 1.4% from August's 116.4.
