U.S. trucking firms see jump in tonnage hauled  

 

Freight tonnage hauled on America’s highways jumped into the fast lane in December, according to the American Trucking Association (ATA). The association’s seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased by 6.8 percent last month, which boosted the year-end figure by 5.9 percent over 2010, the largest annual increase since 1998.

 

Tonnage for the last month of the year was 10.5 percent higher than in December 2010, the largest year-over-year gain since July 1998. November tonnage was up 6.1 percent compared with the same month last year.

 

“While I’m not surprised that tonnage increased in December, I am surprised at the magnitude of the gain,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. Costello noted that it was the largest month-to-month increase since January 2005. 

 

“Not only did truck tonnage increase due to solid manufacturing output in December, but also from some likely inventory restocking. Inventories, especially at the retail level, are exceedingly lean, and I suspect that tonnage was higher than expected as the supply chain did some restocking during the month.” he said. 

 

Freight tonnage hauled on America’s highways jumped into the fast lane in December, according to the American Trucking Association (ATA). The association’s seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased by 6.8 percent last month, which boosted the year-end figure by 5.9 percent over 2010, the largest annual increase since 1998.

 

Tonnage for the last month of the year was 10.5 percent higher than in December 2010, the largest year-over-year gain since July 1998. November tonnage was up 6.1 percent compared with the same month last year.

 

“While I’m not surprised that tonnage increased in December, I am surprised at the magnitude of the gain,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. Costello noted that it was the largest month-to-month increase since January 2005. 

 

“Not only did truck tonnage increase due to solid manufacturing output in December, but also from some likely inventory restocking. Inventories, especially at the retail level, are exceedingly lean, and I suspect that tonnage was higher than expected as the supply chain did some restocking during the month.” he said.