October Truck Tonnage Fell 1.8%, ATA Says

merican Trucking Associations said Monday its preliminary October for-hire truck tonnage index fell 1.8%, following a revised 1.6% rise in September.

The gain put the seasonally adjusted index at 110.8 or 4.0% below the same month last year. The not seasonally adjusted index fell 4.7% from September to 117.7.

“...the latest number fits with anecdotal reports that the traditional fall freight season was essentially non-existent this year,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “After plummeting in February and March, freight volumes through October, on average, have been flat as every gain since May was followed by an equal or greater loss the next month.”