Truck tonnage forecast remains bleak

March 4, 2009

Even though truck tonnage rose 3% in January, officials from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) say there's "no reason to get excited."

"Tonnage will not fall every month," says ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello, "and just because it rises every now and then doesn't mean the economy is on the mend.

"Furthermore, tonnage is contracting significantly on a year-over-year basis, which is highlighting the current weakness in the freight environment."

The January increase was the second month-to-month tonnage boost in the last seven months.