ATA Truck Tonnage Index Rises to Highest Level in Three Years

Truck Tonnage Index Surges 2.6% in February, ATA Reports

Truck tonnage Index moved higher in February, showing a possible shift in freight demand across the trucking industry. New data from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) shows that the index increased sharply during the month, reaching its highest level in several years.

Truck Tonnage Increases in February

The ATA’s advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 2.6% in February, following a 0.7% increase in January.

The index reached 116.2, up from 113.3 the previous month. This increase shows that more freight was moved by truck compared to January.

Year over year, tonnage increased 2.1% compared to February 2025. For the first two months of 2026, truck tonnage is up 1.4% compared to the same period last year.

Truck Tonnage Index Reaches Highest Level in Years

The February reading pushed truck tonnage to its highest level in three years. This marks one of the strongest signals of freight activity since the market slowdown seen in recent years.

The increase may suggest that freight demand is improving, although conditions across the trucking market remain mixed.

Capacity May Be Affecting Truck Tonnage

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello noted that the increase in the truck tonnage index was strong. However, he also explained that part of the rise may be linked to lower capacity in the market.

When fewer trucks are available, the amount of freight per truck may increase. As a result, truck tonnage can rise even as overall demand remains stable.

At the same time, the increase may reflect gradual improvement after a prolonged slowdown in freight volumes.

Non-Adjusted Truck Tonnage Shows Slight Drop

While the seasonally adjusted data moved higher, the non-adjusted truck tonnage index showed a slight decline.

The index measured 106.9 in February, down 1.5% from January’s 108.5. This change reflects normal seasonal patterns and highlights differences between adjusted and raw data.

What Truck Tonnage Index Measures

Truck tonnage is based on freight carried by for-hire carriers under contract. The ATA uses 2015 as a base year of 100 to measure changes over time.

This index is widely used to track freight demand and overall trucking activity in the U.S.

What Truck Tonnage May Mean for Trucking

Higher truck tonnage levels may signal that more freight is moving through the supply chain. This can be an early sign of improving market conditions.

However, other factors still affect the trucking industry. These include fuel costs, freight rates, and overall economic conditions.

As a result, while truck tonnage is increasing, it does not yet confirm a full market recovery.

Outlook for Truck Tonnage Index

The recent increase in truck tonnage suggests that freight activity may be stabilizing. Still, it remains unclear whether this trend will continue in the coming months.

Future ATA reports will provide more insight into whether truck tonnage continues to rise or levels off.