Truck tonnage saw another monthly decline in June, according to data issued today by the American Trucking Associations (ATA).
ATA reported that its June Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index reading, at 113.1 (2015=100), saw a 0.7% annual decrease (downwardly revised from an originally-reported 0.6% annual decrease), following a 2.5% annual increase in April. Through the first five months of 2026, the index posted a 1.4% annual increase, paced by first quarter gains, whereas it was flat annually in 2025.
The ATA’s not seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by fleets before any seasonal adjustment and the metric ATA says fleets should benchmark their levels with, came in at 116.5, topping May’s 113.4 reading by 2.7%. ATA said that these indices “are dominated by contract freight, as opposed to traditional spot market freight.”
“While tonnage was little changed during June, there was a definite weakening in volumes during the second quarter as the index contracted a total of 4.1% during April and May,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “After five straight year-over-year gains, tonnage has now contracted from year-earlier levels for the last two months. While the U.S. economy remains on solid footing overall, the freight economy isn’t as strong. With that said, the decrease in capacity over the last year probably has fleets feeling a little better than volumes would suggest”
