Trucking activity in the United States increased slightly in November, but overall volumes remain low, the American Trucking Associations reported.
ATA’s truck tonnage rose 0.2% in November after falling 1.9% in October and 0.8% in September. That put the advanced seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index at 112.4 in November, up from 112.2.
“November’s tonnage reading continues to point to a constrained freight market despite the small sequential increase,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello.
The index contracted by 0.3% from the same month last year. Year-to-date, truck tonnage was unchanged.
“In addition to challenging volumes, more capacity appears to be leaving the industry after a prolonged freight downturn and increased government enforcement measures targeting unqualified drivers and noncompliant carriers,” Costello said.
ATA also said October’s seasonally adjusted decrease was revised up slightly from its preliminary report. The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, was 107.3 in November, 10.2% below October’s reading of 119.5.
The tonnage indexes are dominated by contract freight rather than traditional spot-market freight.
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