by Calculated Risk on 12/20/2010 08:04:00 PM

From the American Trucking Association: ATA Truck Tonnage Index Fell 0.1 Percent in November

The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index edged 0.1 percent lower in November after increasing a revised 0.9 percent in October. In September and October, tonnage increased a total of 2.8 percent. The latest reduction put the SA index at 109.7 (2000=100) in November from 109.9 in October
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ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said that he is not overly concerned with the small decrease in tonnage during November. “Tonnage increased for two consecutive months in September and October and I don’t expect volumes to rise every month. Additionally, the decrease in November is much smaller than the gains during the previous two months.” Costello said he expects truck freight tonnage to grow modestly during the first half of 2011 before accelerating in the later half of the year into 2012.

Click on map for larger image.

This graph from the ATA shows the Truck Tonnage Index since Jan 2006.

The line is added to show the index has been mostly moving sideways this year.