Econintersect: The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) trucking index increased 0.3% in November 2011 after increasing a downwardly revised 0.4% in October 2011. Compared with November 2010, SA tonnage was up a solid 6.0%.
Year-to-date, compared with the same period last year, tonnage is up 5.4%.
“As I said last month, tonnage levels continue to point to an economy that is growing, not sliding into a recession,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. “Over the last three months, tonnage is up 2.3% and stands at the highest level since January of this year.”
“Two primary factors have helped truck tonnage in recent months. First, manufacturing output, which generates a significant amount of truck freight, has generally been increasing. Second, retail inventories are very lean, which is helping freight as well since retailers don’t have much excess stock and need to replenish when sales go up.” he said.
Econintersect’s analysis shows trucking has been in a tight range all of 2011 – and now is near the top of the post 2007 recession range.
source: ATA
