The American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.6 percent in February after increasing 1 percent in January (the 1 percent gain in January was revised down from a 2.4 percent increase ATA reported on February 19, 2013). Tonnage has now increased for four straight months, which hasn't happened since late 2011. Over the last four months, tonnage gained a total of 7.7 percent. Compared with February 2012, the SA index was up a solid 4.2 percent, just below January's 4.6 percent year-over-year gain. Year-to-date, compared with the same period in 2012, the tonnage index is up 4.4 percent. In 2012, tonnage increased 2.3 percent from 2011.
"Fitting with several other key economic indicators, truck tonnage is up earlier than we anticipated this year," ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. "While I think this is a good sign for the industry and the economy, I'm still concerned that freight tonnage will slow in the months ahead as the federal government sequester continues and households finish spending their tax returns. A little longer term, I think the economy and the industry are poised for a more robust recovery."