Truck Tonnage Index Up 3%, the Largest Jump In Years

ATA Truck Tonnage Index Sees 3% Jump in February

Freight Surge Driven by Delayed Shipments and Increased Imports

Trucking activity in the U.S. rose sharply in February. The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 3% from January. This was the largest month-over-month jump in several years. The gain followed a small 0.1% decline in January.

Bob Costello, ATA’s Chief Economist, explained the reasons behind these changes.

“After a scant 0.1% decline in January, which wasn’t bad considering the harsh winter weather and California wildfires, truck tonnage had a robust gain in February,” said Costello. “This outcome fits well with our growing optimism for the truck freight market after a two-year recession.”

January’s drop was expected due to severe winter weather and California wildfires. However, February’s strong rebound is fueling optimism for a freight recovery after two years of struggles.

Increased Imports Helped Boost Truck Tonnage Index

One major reason for February’s growth was a surge in imports. Many shippers moved products into the U.S. earlier than planned. This was done to avoid possible new tariffs.

Even with this factor in play, overall freight conditions appear to be improving. Costello pointed out that the first two months of the year were positive. These early signs suggest the trucking industry is on the path to recovery.

Truck Tonnage Index Shows Strongest Growth in Years

The seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index reached 115.2 in February. This was up from 111.9 in January. Compared to February 2023, the index also grew 0.6% year-over-year. This was the second consecutive year-over-year increase, something that has not happened since early 2023.

However, the not seasonally adjusted index, which measures raw tonnage hauled, fell to 104.8 in February. This was a 4.7% drop from January’s 110.0. This type of decline is normal for February. Freight volumes often slow after the busy holiday season.

ATA also revised its seasonally adjusted index for the past five years. These updates help improve the accuracy of its reports.

Trucking’s Role in the U.S. Economy

Trucking is a major part of the U.S. economy. It moves 72.7% of all domestic freight. In 2024, trucks hauled an estimated 11.27 billion tons of goods. The industry also generated $906 billion in revenue. This made up 76.9% of total earnings across all modes of transportation.

The ATA Truck Tonnage Index mainly tracks contract freight, which is more stable than the spot market. The data comes from ATA member surveys and has been collected since the 1970s.

What’s Next for the Trucking Market?

The big question now is whether this momentum will continue. 

ATA will release its next report around April 5. This update will provide more details on freight trends, the economy, and key financial indicators.

With two straight months of year-over-year growth, the trucking industry may finally be turning a corner. If this trend holds, it could mean the end of a difficult two-year slump for the freight market.