Trucking news and briefs for Friday, June 26, 2026:
Truck tonnage dips for second straight month
Trucking activity in the United States contracted 2% in May after decreasing 0.9% in April, according to the American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.
“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,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “Despite the recent decreases, the index increased" year over year "for the sixth straight month, which is pretty good considering the bulk of freight drivers, like manufacturing and construction, remain lackluster.”
In May, ATA’s advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 114.4 -- a 0.6% increase over the same month last year. During the first five months of the year, tonnage was up 2% from the same period last year. In 2025, the tonnage index was flat compared to the 2024 average.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 114.8 in May, 0.8% below April’s reading of 115.7.
DAT One now offering load recommendations based on carrier profiles
DAT Freight & Analytics has launched a new “Load Recommendations” feature in the DAT One mobile app that displays a curated set of loads most likely to fit a carrier’s truck, lanes and operating preferences.
Instead of scrolling through every available load and filtering manually, the new feature allows carriers to open the app and see their top opportunities the moment they sign in, with no setup required, DAT said.
“Finding the right load takes time, and for carriers, that time is unpaid,” said Bill Driegert, EVP at DAT. “Load Recommendations now brings their most desirable loads to them quickly, so carriers can spend less time hunting and more time hauling.”
Load Recommendations draws on several factors, including the carrier’s equipment types, the lanes they typically run, and how they search for freight and engage with the DAT One marketplace. Then the app prioritizes loads that fit the carrier’s operating pattern and automatically brings them forward.
Recommendations refresh regularly and become more tailored as the carrier uses the app.
The new feature, DAT said, is “intended as a faster starting point, not a replacement for the carrier’s own judgement about which loads to call on.” Carriers will still have full access to DAT One’s traditional search features when they want to look beyond the app’s recommendations.
Load Recommendations is available now for DAT One subscribers in the mobile app.
Trucking Cares Foundation continues support of Texas driving school for low-income teens, young adults
The Trucking Cares Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Trucking Associations, this week donated $25,000 to the South Dallas Driving Academy (SDDA), a nonprofit that provides free driver education courses to low-income teens and young adults.
The Trucking Cares Foundation initially donated $15,000 in seed funding that helped launch the program in 2021, followed by an additional $20,000 in 2023 and $25,000 in 2024 as part of its ongoing commitment to expanding access to career opportunities in trucking.
The inspiration for South Dallas Driving Academy was Germany Williams, a young man who grew up in an impoverished neighborhood, earned his CDL, and changed the trajectory of his life. His story was recently featured in a documentary produced by Nothing Without Trucking.
“The South Dallas Driving Academy has been instrumental in removing barriers to rewarding careers in our industry,” said Greg Owen, chairman of the Trucking Cares Foundation and head coach of Ability Tri-Modal. “By equipping individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with the skills and credentials they need to succeed, SDDA is helping to create opportunity, strengthen communities, and build the next generation of trucking professionals. The Trucking Cares Foundation is proud to continue supporting this life-changing program.”
Nearly 40% of low-income individuals in urban areas in the United States – and nearly half in South Dallas – lack a valid driver’s license, often due to limited access to affordable driver education, TCF said. The South Dallas Driving Academy addresses this challenge by offering a dual-track training program that enables participants to obtain their driver’s license and prepare for careers in transportation.
The only program of its kind, SDDA is offered at no cost to Bonton and South Dallas residents with a student course completion and program graduation rate of 90%.
[Related: Trucking Cares Foundation donates $25K to Texas driving school]
