Freight surged in October and carriers are bracing for what could be a record-breaking holiday shipping season.

Recent growth in truck tonnage eased up a bit in September, but still advanced 7.4% year-over-year, American Trucking Associations reported Oct. 24.

For the third consecutive month, American Trucking Associations’ truck tonnage index rose on a year-over-year basis, signaling trucking may be heading toward brighter days, experts said.

U.S. truck tonnage rose by 1.3% in June, compared with the same month in 2016, American Trucking Associations said July 18, and industry stakeholders expect steady, sustainable growth to last into 2018.

Truck tonnage rose 4.8% in May compared with one year ago, the largest year-over-year gain since November 2016, according to the monthly American Trucking Associations index, suggesting that the freight market has tightened in recent weeks.

Truck tonnage rose 4.8% year-over-year in May, according to the monthly American Trucking Associations Tonnage Index, the largest gain since November 2016, echoing sentiments from analysts and trucking executives that the freight market has tightened in recent weeks as people spend more time outdoors.

Truck tonnage fell 1.8% year-over-year in April even though fleets generally reported positive conditions for the month, according to the latest monthly data from American Trucking Associations.

Truck tonnage fell 1.8% in April compared with 2016 levels despite fleets generally reporting positive conditions in the month, according to the latest monthly data from American Trucking Associations.

Truck tonnage rose 0.7% last month compared with March 2016, although the American Trucking Associations’ chief economist said that late winter storms hurt the index compared with this past February.