Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, July 24, 2025:
Truck tonnage declined in June
Trucking activity in the United States slipped in June as the freight market eroded during the last two months of the second quarter, according to the American Trucking Associations.
Specifically, truck freight tonnage decreased 0.4% after falling 0.1% in May, according to ATA’s advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.
ATA's Truck Tonnage Index declined 0.4% in June after falling 0.1% in May.ATA
“After a strong start to the second quarter, with tonnage levels increasing sequentially and from a year earlier in April, freight levels eased in May and June,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello.
Costello noted that in the second quarter as a whole, truck tonnage was mostly flat, increasing just 0.2% from the first quarter. Tonnage was down 0.2% from Q2 2024, however.
“Freight levels have been helped recently by small gains in factory output and retail sales, but weaker construction activity, especially for single-family homes, has been a drag on volumes,” Costello concluded.
In June, the ATA advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 113.3, down from 113.8 in May. The index, which is based on 2015 as 100, slipped 0.1% from the same month last year after falling 1.3% in May. Year-to-date, compared with the same period in 2024, tonnage was up 0.1%.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 114.9 in June, 1.1% below May’s reading of 116.2.
New EV charging depot, welcome center, more planned for NYC’s Hunts Point
The Hunts Point Food Distribution Center in New York City is set to expand with a new freight-focused electric vehicle charging center, multi-purpose welcome center and workforce development hub.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) on Thursday announced the winning proposal to build the new hub that “will serve as the front door for the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center.”
During the same event, Mack Trucks delivered its first electric refuse truck as part of “The Bronx Is Breathing: Reimagining a Cleaner Hunts Point” project. The Mack LR Electric refuse truck was delivered to Royal Waste Services, Inc., a Waste Connections subsidiary.
“This delivery represents more than just a new vehicle,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “It’s a tangible step toward advancing sustainable transportation and demonstrates how the transportation industry can support community environmental goals. The Mack LR Electric offers zero-emission operation while providing Royal Waste Services with a reliable solution for its operations.”Mack Trucks
Led by MN8 Energy (MN8), the charging depot, welcome center and workforce development hub will anchor the next chapter for Hunts Point and meet a critical commitment of the Hunts Point Forward plan.
The proposal will include 32 Direct Current Fast Chargers, at least eight of which will be suitable for Class 8 vehicles with trailer-enabled fast charging stalls, and 10 Level-2 chargers. The infrastructure will support both medium- and heavy-duty and light-duty electric vehicles, as well as micromobility options such as electric bikes and scooters available 24/7.
The project is anticipated to start development in 2026.
The new, first-of-its-kind 12,500 square feet multi-purpose welcome center and workforce development hub will represent a bold vision for economic mobility, workforce training, and sustainable infrastructure in Hunts Point, NYCEDC said. It will include 10,000 square feet of indoor space that will be distributed into: shared spaces featuring vestibules, lobby and interpretive center, security room, and restrooms; commercial space featuring a convenience store with provisions for two restaurants; workforce development hub featuring a multi-purpose room, lounge/meditation/quiet room, classrooms, employment office, reception, employee restroom, and shared employment office.
“MN8 Energy’s development will serve as critical EV charging infrastructure while providing a welcome center and space for workforce development at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “With this announcement, the City continues to build a more sustainable, resilient, thriving Hunts Point, delivering on key commitments in the Hunts Point Forward plan launched three years ago.”
South Dakota highway restrictions planned for early August
Truck drivers traveling near Sturgis, South Dakota, in early August should be aware of decreased speed limits along I-90, along with other highway restrictions in the area during the 85th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally being held Aug. 1-10.
Between Thursday, July 31 and Sunday, Aug. 10, the South Dakota Department of Transportation will reduce speed limits on the following highways:
- I-90 -- Speed limit reduced from 75 mph to 65 mph from west of Exit 55 (Deadwood Avenue) in Rapid City to west of exit 30 (Lazelle Street) in Sturgis.
- South Dakota Highway 34 -- Reduced from 65 mph and 45 mph to 35 mph from Blanche Street in Sturgis, east approximately four miles (east of Buffalo Chip).
- South Dakota Highway 79 -- Reduced from 65 mph to 45 mph from the junction of S.D. Highway 34 north approximately two miles (north of Iron Horse Campground) and from one-half mile south of the intersection with Bighorn Road north approximately one mile, near the Full Throttle Saloon and Drag Pipe Saloon approaches.
The SDDOT will also deploy message boards and speed trailers at various locations along with the permanent dynamic message boards on the interstate to display messages regarding traffic conditions, crashes causing delays, extreme weather events, and other messages as needed.
In addition to speed limit reductions, SDDOT will activate temporary traffic signals at the following locations:
- S.D. Highway 34/79 and Nellie Avenue
- S.D. Highway 34/79 and Ft. Meade main entrance
- S.D. Highway 34/79 and Glencoe Drive
- S.D. Highway 34 and S.D. Highway 79 east of Sturgis
- S.D. Highway 34 and Ft. Meade Way (Buffalo Chip)
- S.D. Highway 44 and U.S. Highway 385
- U.S. Highway 16 and U.S. Highway 385 east of Hill City
- S.D. Highway 34/79 and 8th Street in Sturgis
- S.D. Highway 34/79 and 11th Street in Sturgis
- Interstate 90 exit 32 westbound ramp
- Interstate 90 exit 32 eastbound ramp
- Interstate 90 exit 55 eastbound ramp
