The February truck tonnage index fell 2.8% on a year-over-year basis, but American Trucking Associations chief economist said freight activity was still strong and fell short because of the record-setting February 2016  comparison.

Truck tonnage rose 2.6% in January compared with the same month in 2016, reversing a decline in December, according to the monthly American Trucking Associations index.

January truck tonnage jumped up smartly by 2.6% compared with the same month in 2016, American Trucking Associations said Feb. 21.

Truck tonnage decreased 0.7% in December, the third and final year-over-year decline in 2016 in the monthly index from American Trucking Associations, but analysts and economists remain optimistic that 2017 will a better year for the industry.

Truck tonnage increased 5.7% in November versus one year ago, the first year-over-year increase since August in the American Trucking Associations monthly index in 2016, a sign that the trucking industry could be turning a corner and heading towards a better 2017.

Truck tonnage sagged 0.9% in October versus one year ago, the second consecutive decline in the American Trucking Associations monthly index in 2016, despite other positive economic numbers in the retail, manufacturing and industrial sectors.

U.S. truck tonnage fell 5.8% in September, reversing the positive trend in August and marking the first year-over-year decline in the American Trucking Associations index since October 2015.