Tonnage boost not sign of things to come: ATA

ARLINGTON, Va.– A 3-percent month-over-month increase in the American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index in January did little to erase the revised 7.8 percent contraction in December 2008.

In January, the seasonally adjusted tonnage index equaled just 104.7 (2000 = 100), its second-lowest level since October 2002 and only the second month-to-month increase in the last seven months. The not seasonally adjusted index fell 4.4 percent from the previous month to 97.2.

Compared with January 2008, the index declined 10.8 percent, which was slightly better than December’s 12.5 percent year-over-year drop.

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said that there was no reason to get excited about January’s 3 percent month-to-month improvement.

"Tonnage will not fall every month, and just because it rises every now and then doesn’t mean the economy is on the mend," Costello said. "Furthermore, tonnage is contracting significantly on a year-over-year basis, which is highlighting the current weakness in the freight environment." Costello said any sustained recovery in tonnage is still months away.