Truck Tonnage Increases Slightly in July

The freight market had marginally better results in July than in June, according to one report. 

Tonnage ticked up 0.3 percent in the last month, according to the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index. 

That comes on the heels of a 1.8 percent decline in June, more than the originally estimated 1.6 percent, according to the Aug. 20 report. 

The index is still down 0.9 percent compared to July 2023. 

In a statement, ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said that while July’s increase wasn’t a game-changer, it’s evidence that the market is slowly turning a corner. 

“Some of July’s small gain was likely due to strong import activity, especially at West Coast seaports,” Costello stated. “Decent retail sales and factory output growing slightly from a year earlier also helped truck tonnage last month.” 

The index is based on an ATA survey of its members and focuses more on contract freight than the spot market.