CCJ‘s Indicators rounds up the latest reports on trucking business indicators on rates, freight, equipment, the economy and more.
The amount of freight moved by the for-hire trucking industry, as measured by the American Trucking Associations‘ monthly Truck Tonnage Index, climbed 2 percent in January from December.
Compared with January 2017, tonnage jumped 8.8 percent — outpacing 2017’s 3.6 percent growth from 2016.
“Last month’s gain in tonnage fit with the anecdotal reports we have been hearing from fleets – that freight was solid in what is typically a softer month,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “With the economy strong, the drivers of truck freight solid, and the inventory cycle in favor of motor carriers, I expect freight tonnage to remain robust in the months ahead.”