Truck Tonnage Results: Down 2% in May, Still Up Annually

Truck Tonnage Falls 2% in May but Remains Above Last Year’s Levels

The amount of freight hauled by for-hire trucking companies declined in May, according to new data released by the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The latest truck tonnage report shows the ATA’s advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 2% in May after a revised 0.9% decline in April. Despite the recent slowdown, tonnage remained above year-earlier levels for the sixth consecutive month, signaling that freight demand is still stronger than it was a year ago.

Truck Tonnage Declined After a Strong Start to 2026

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said the trucking industry saw solid growth during the first quarter before freight volumes softened in April and May.

“After a total gain of 4.7% during the first three months of the year, tonnage fell a total of 2.9% during the last two months,” Costello said.

He added that the recent decline comes as manufacturing and construction, two major freight-producing sectors, continue to experience weaker activity.

In May, the seasonally adjusted truck tonnage index measured 114.4, using 2015 as the base year of 100.

Year-Over-Year Truck Tonnage Remains Positive

Although freight volumes declined from the previous month, the annual comparison remained positive.

The May truck tonnage index was 0.6% higher than it was in May 2025. It marked the sixth straight month of year-over-year growth.

During the first five months of 2026, tonnage index increased 2% compared with the same period in 2025.

ATA also reported that the non-seasonally adjusted index, which reflects raw freight movement, fell 0.8% from April.

What the Truck Tonnage Report Means

The ATA’s truck tonnage index is based primarily on contract freight rather than spot market freight.

Because contract freight moves under long-term agreements between carriers and shippers, the report provides a broader picture of freight demand across the trucking industry.

While freight volumes have softened over the past two months, the continued year-over-year gains suggest that carriers are still moving more freight than they were at this time last year.

According to Costello, freight-producing industries remain sluggish, which continues to weigh on overall trucking activity.

Trucking Remains the Nation’s Leading Freight Carrier

ATA estimates that trucks transport 72.7% of all domestic freight tonnage in the United States.

In 2024, trucks hauled approximately 11.27 billion tons of freight. Motor carriers generated about $906 billion in revenue, accounting for nearly 77% of the total revenue earned by all freight transportation modes.

Because trucking carries most of the nation’s freight, changes in truck tonnage are widely viewed as an important indicator of both freight demand and the overall U.S. economy.

The May figures are preliminary and may be revised when ATA releases its final monthly report in early July.