Arlington, Va. — ÀÏ¾ÅÆ·²è’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 4.3% in June, following a 6.9% gain during May. In June, the index equaled 138.5 (2000=100), down from 144.7 in May.
Compared with June 2016, the SA index increased 1.3%. In May, the index jumped 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. Year-to-date, compared with the first half of 2016, the index is up 1%.
As part of this report, ÀÏ¾ÅÆ·²è also revised its May gain in the index upward to a 6.9% jump from a previously reported 6.5% gain.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 144.3 in June, which was 1% below the previous month (145.8).
“After such a large spike in May, it was not surprising to see the index give back some of those gains in June,â€� said ÀÏ¾ÅÆ·²è Chief Economist Bob Costello. “However, looking back at the second quarter as a whole, tonnage was up 0.8% over the first quarter and 1.9% over the same quarter last year, so it was a solid three month period.
Ìý“June’s slide does not change my belief that we will continue to see moderate, albeit at times choppy, growth in truck tonnage as the year continues,â€� he said.
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 70.1% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled nearly 10.5 billion tons of freight in 2015. Motor carriers collected $726.4 billion, or 81.2% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.
ÀÏ¾ÅÆ·²è 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.
ÀÏ¾ÅÆ·²è 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, ÀÏ¾ÅÆ·²è is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. Follow ÀÏ¾ÅÆ·²è onÌýÌýorÌý.Ìý