ATA Truck Tonnage Remains Unchanged for January
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The freight market didn’t change much starting the new year with tonnage remaining sequentially the same for January, American Trucking Associations reported.
The ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was reported to be 111.9 for December as well. The report pointed out it remained unchanged despite factors that depressed freight volumes. The index was even up 0.3% from the same month last year. This is the first year-over-year increase since August. The not seasonally adjusted index improved 1.1% sequentially.
“After declines in November and December totaling 1.7%, tonnage was unchanged in January” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “This outcome is impressive considering the massive winter storm that brought cold temperatures and significant snowfalls to large parts of the country, including those that rarely see such storms.”
Costello pointed out that softness in manufacturing and retail sales continue to be a drag on truck freight volumes. He also suspects the wildfires in California likely caused freight disruptions. Because of that, he views tonnage being flat as a positive sign.
ATA calculates its monthly tonnage index based on feedback from contract freight. In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015.
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