The American Trucking Associations' (ATA) seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 2.8 percent in December after surging 3.9 percent in November. The back-to-back increases in November and December were by far the best of gains of 2012. Despite the solid monthly increase, compared with December 2011, the SA index was off 2.3 percent, the worst year-over-year result since November 2009. For all of 2012, tonnage was up 2.3 percent. In 2011, the index increased 5.8 percent.
"December was better than anticipated in light of the very difficult year-over-year comparison," ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. In December 2011, the index surged 6.4 percent from the previous month. Costello anticipates more sluggishness in the index this year, especially early in the year, as the economy continues to face several headwinds. "As paychecks shrink for all households due to higher taxes, I'm expecting a weak first quarter for tonnage and the broader economy," Costello said. "Since trucks account for the vast majority of deliveries in the retail supply chain, any reduction in consumer spending will have ramifications on truck tonnage levels."