ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index Down 2.7% In August
(For August 2010)
The American Trucking Associations seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 2.7% in August. The largest month-to-month decrease since March 2009.
From the Press Release:
ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said that August’s data highlights that the economy, while still growing, is slowing. “We fully anticipate sluggish economic growth for the remainder of this year and the latest tonnage numbers are reflecting that slowdown.” However, Costello believes that the trucking environment has changed dramatically. “While I’d much rather see better tonnage figures, motor carriers can now do better with small increases in demand since so much supply left the industry during the recession.”
Chart 1. ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index SA
Source: ATA