ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- American
Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire
Truck Tonnage Index jumped 6.3% in October to 119.9 from
September's mark of 112.8.
"After slowing at the end of the third quarter, truck freight
surged in October," said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. "Last month's strength was
due, at least in part, to strong import numbers, especially on the
West Coast. This is likely a pull ahead of imports as shippers try
to take delivery of goods before January
1 when tariffs on a large list of goods China increases from 10% to 25%."
September's change over the previous month was revised up to
+0.1% (-0.8% was originally reported in our press release on
October 23).
Compared with October 2017, the SA
index increased 9.5%, up from September's 3.8% year-over-year
increase. Year-to-date, compared with the same period last year,
tonnage increased 7.3%.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change
in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal
adjustment, equaled 124.4 in October, which was 11.8% above the
previous month (111.2). In calculating the index, 100 represents
2015.
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing
70.2% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight
transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks
hauled 10.77 billion tons of freight in 2017. Motor carriers
collected $700.1 billion, or 79.3% of
total revenue earned by all transport modes.
ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its
membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a
preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued
around the 10th day of the month. The report includes
month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic
comparisons and key financial indicators.
The American Trucking Associations is the largest national
trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation
of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related
conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America
depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on
Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America
Forward.
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SOURCE American Trucking Associations