In The News

Truck tonnage unchanged for September; up 3.7% from 2013

ARLINGTON, Va. — American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was unchanged in September, following a gain of 1.6 percent the previous month.

In September the index equaled 132.6 (2000=100), the same as in August and a record high.

Compared with September 2013, the SA index increased 3.7 percent, down from August’s 4.5 percent year-over-year gain. Year-to-date, compared with the same period last year, tonnage is up 3.2 percent.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 135.8 in September which was 1.7 percent above the previous month (133.5).

“September data was a mixed bag, with retail sales falling while factory output increased nicely,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “As a result, I’m not too surprised that truck tonnage split both of those readings and remained unchanged.”

“During the third quarter, truck tonnage jumped 2.4 percent from the second quarter and surged 4 percent from the same period last year,” Costello said.  He also noted that the third quarter average was the highest on record.

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 69.1 percent of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 9.7 billion tons of freight in 2013. Motor carriers collected $681.7 billion, or 81.2 percent of total revenue earned by all transport modes.

ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 10th day of the month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry.

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