The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 2.4% in September after rising 0.3% in August - the largest sequential gain of 2021.
Tonnage increases are happening "because each truck is hauling more - not from an increase in the amount of equipment," says ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello.
Contract carriers in the for-hire truckload market "continue to shrink from the lack of new trucks and drivers," he adds.
“The drivers of truck freight - including retail, construction and manufacturing, plus a surge in imports - are helping keep demand high for trucking services."
