December 27, 2005 1:30 PM, EST

Truck Tonnage Index Jumps 1.9% in November, ATA Says

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verall for-hire trucking freight volumes surged 1.9% in November from a month earlier, American Trucking Associations said Tuesday.

The seasonally adjusted rise was the third straight, following gains of 0.3% in both September and October, ATA said. Prior to that, the tonnage index had declined for four consecutive months.

The November level rose to a 116.4 level from 114.2 in October, ATA said.

The November index level was 2.2% higher than a year earlier, representing the largest year-over-year increase since March, the group said.

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the tonnage index fell 2.2% from October, to 115.

Several carriers said that the 2005 fall freight season started later than in most years, ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. Strong holiday retail sales and manufacturing production helped generate solid gains in November, he said.

“Many carriers in recent weeks said demand has been robust and capacity has been particularly tight,” Costello said. “November’s seasonally adjusted surge confirms recent strength in the industry.”

ATA’s economics department calculates the monthly tonnage index based on surveys of its members.