US truck tonnage drop in November not a concern: ATA

Seasonally-adjusted US truck tonnage took a 0.1% hit in November,

according to the latest data from the American Trucking Associations.

In September and October, tonnage increased a total of 28%. The

not seasonally-adjusted index was down 3.7% in November.

Compared with November 2009, seasonally-adjusted tonnage was

up 3.9%, significantly lower than October’s 6% year-over-year increase,

the ATA noted. Year-to-date tonnage is up 5.9% compared

to the same period in 2009. “Tonnage increased for two consecutive

months in September and October and I don’t expect volumes to

rise every month,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello.

“Additionally, the decrease in November is much smaller than the

gains during the previous two months.”