US truck tonnage recovered in July

ARLINGTON, Va. – Following a small dip in June, the American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index climbed back up in July.

July’s tonnage was up 1.5 percent from June and up 7.4 percent over July 2009.

Although a seasonal slip brought freight levels downslightly the previous month, July represented the eighth straight year-over-year gain.

Overall, tonnage is up 6.7 percent in 2010 over the same period of 2009.

However, ATA chief economist Bob Costello still cautioned that growth will be modest in the months ahead. "The economy is slowing and truck freight tonnage has essentially gone sideways since April 2010."

Still, "after accounting for the reduction in supply over the last few years, even small gains in tonnage will have a larger impact on the industry than in past," he added.