ATA Truck Tonnage Index

Data Transportation

Source: ATA
Source Link: https://www.trucking.org/
Frequency: Monthly
Next Release(s): October 21st, 2025 12:00 PM

Latest Updates

The ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.9% MoM in August 2025 to 115.3, while YoY growth slowed to 0.4%, marking the highest index level since December 2023.
- July’s tonnage growth was revised up to 1.1% MoM, confirming back-to-back monthly gains.
- The not seasonally adjusted index increased 0.3% MoM to 117.7, reflecting raw freight volume growth.
- Year-to-date tonnage was up just 0.1% compared with the same period in 2024, underscoring flat momentum.
- The ATA noted mixed macro drivers: tariffs disrupting seasonal shipping patterns, continued softness in housing, slowing labor markets, and decelerating manufacturing indicator.
Source
The ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 0.6% MoM in July 2025 to 113.7, but remained down -0.1% YoY, indicating that freight volumes are still flat compared with last year.
- June’s decline was revised lower to -0.7% MoM, and overall tonnage has stayed within a narrow range since March.
- The not seasonally adjusted index rose 1.9% MoM to 116.8, reflecting typical seasonal lift.
- Year-to-date tonnage was unchanged relative to the same period in 2024, showing a lack of momentum.
- ATA noted mixed drivers: strength in housing starts and retail sales, while manufacturing output was flat to down depending on the measure.
Source
The ATA Truck Tonnage Index fell -0.4% MoM in June to 113.3, following a revised +0.5% MoM gain in April and a -0.1% dip in May.
- The index was down -0.1% YoY, easing from a -1.3% YoY drop in May.
- Q2 tonnage was flat (+0.2% QoQ), but fell -0.2% YoY.
- The not seasonally adjusted index dropped -1.1% MoM to 114.9 in June (from 116.2 in May).
- Gains in factory output and retail sales supported freight, but soft single-family construction weighed on volumes.
Source
The ATA Truck Tonnage Index fell -0.1% MoM in May to 113.8, following a revised +0.5% MoM gain in April.
- The index was down -1.3% YoY, marking the first annual decline in 2025.
- Year-to-date tonnage was up just 0.1% compared to the same period in 2024.
- The not seasonally adjusted index rose +2.9% MoM to 116.2 in May.
- ATA: “The goods economy remains volatile, with softness in construction, mixed manufacturing activity, and cautious consumers weighing on freight demand.”
Source
The ATA Truck Tonnage Index fell -0.3% MoM in April following the -1.5% MoM decline in March.
- The index rose 0.1% YoY, marking the fourth straight annual increase but the smallest in that sequence.
- The not seasonally adjusted index was down -2.2% MoM to 112.0.
- ATA: “After surging 2.8% in February, and hitting the highest level since late May 2024, tonnage fell a combined 1.8% in March and April. Unfortunately, a recovery that was expected this year hasn’t transpired as the industry deals with a freight market in flux from tariffs and softening economic indicators.”
Source
The ATA Truck Tonnage Index fell -1.5% MoM in March, partially reversing February’s 2.8% gain.
- The index rose 0.2% YoY, marking the third straight annual increase.
- The not seasonally adjusted index rose 9.5% MoM to 114.6.
- Q1 2025 saw marginal quarterly tonnage gains both QoQ and YoY for the first time in two years.
- Strong March manufacturing, especially in autos, helped limit further declines.
- ATA: “Overall in the first quarter, tonnage increased marginally from both the fourth and first quarters of 2024. While the gains were not strong at half a percent and less, it was the first time that the quarterly average increased both sequentially and from a year earlier in two years. That tells me that the freight market did in fact turn around in the first three months of the year despite an uncertain outlook.”
Source
The ATA Truck Tonnage Index jumped 2.9% MoM in February 2025, the largest monthly increase in several years.
- The annual increase was 0.6% YoY, the first time there has been two consecutive positive annual increases since early 2023.
- The not seasonally adjusted index was down -4.7% MoM.
- ATA: “Some of the gain in February was due to accelerated imports early in the year as shippers rushed to bring products into the U.S. before tariffs hit.”
Source
The ATA Truck Tonnage Index was unchanged in January, after declines in November and December totaling -1.7%.
- This is a good reading considering wildfires in CA and cold weather impacted activity.
- The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 110 in January, 1.1% above December’s reading of 108.9.
Source
The ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell -1.1% MoM and -3.2% YoY in December. After a -1.8% MoM decline in November, the total decline in the index over the last two months is -2.9%. The index is now at its lowest reading since January 2024. ATA Chief Economist: “Sluggishness in factory output continues to weigh on freight volumes, but another drag on the index has been fleet growth at private carriers, which is holding back how much freight is flowing to for-hire carriers.”

Source
The ATA Truck Tonnage Index fell -1.9% MoM and -1% YoY in November to 112.5. The decline followed a gain of 1.2% MoM in October. The not seasonally adjusted index was down -9.6% MoM

Source