Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, March 20, 2024:
Truck tonnage bounced back in February
ATA's Truck Tonnage Index jumped 4.3% in February from January, but was still 1.4% below February 2023.ATA
The amount of freight hauled by trucks in February rebounded after falling in January, according to the American Trucking Associations.
ATA’s advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 4.3% in February after decreasing 3.2% in January. In February, the index equaled 116.0 (2015=100) compared with 111.3 in January.
“After a very soft January, due in part to winter storms, truck tonnage snapped back in February,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “February’s level was the highest in a year, yet the index still contracted from a year earlier, suggesting truck freight remains in a recession.”
Compared with February 2023, the index fell 1.4%, which was the 12th straight year-over-year decline. In January, the index was down 4.5% from a year earlier.
The not-seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 109.7 in February, the same as in January.
[Related: Trucking conditions better in January, yet challenges remain]
TRP opens 300th global location, celebrates 30 years in business
TRP, Paccar Parts’ private label of aftermarket parts for all-makes and models of trucks, trailers and buses, announced its global store network has exceeded 300 locations as part of its recent expansion.
Paccar Parts said this growth enables TRP to reach new customers and better support loyal, established customers who depend on TRP for the products and service that support the life of their truck and trailer.
On the list of store openings is TRP’s milestone 300th global store located in Ecuador. TRP Manta, operated by Indusur, is strategically located in an area known for heavy-duty transportation, with access to the seaport, the airport and one of the country's main highways. TRP Manta is a parts-only store and offers a wide portfolio of TRP products. It services a market of over 3,000 trucks manufactured around the world.
Since 2023, Paccar Parts said it has added 60 TRP stores globally, including 11 in the United States and two in Canada. The stores have been a mix of parts-only and parts and service locations.
“I’m thrilled to acknowledge TRP’s 300th store and welcome each new store to the TRP network,” said Laura Bloch, Paccar Parts general manager and Paccar vice president. “With every new location, TRP increases customer satisfaction by giving them better access to the parts they need and rely on.”
This year, TRP also marks 30 years in providing high-quality aftermarket transportation solutions, the company added.
