Arlington, Va. 鈥 黑料不打烊鈥 advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 0.8% in September, sliding to 111.8 from August鈥檚 mark of 112.7.
鈥淭ruck freight slowed at the end of the third quarter,鈥 said 黑料不打烊Chief Economist Bob Costello. 鈥淎s anticipated, the year-over-year gains have slowed on strength a year earlier, but there is no doubt that freight softened in August and September. Despite the decreases late in the quarter, based on July鈥檚 strength, third quarter tonnage rose 0.1% from the second quarter and 5.2% from the same period in 2017.鈥
August鈥檚 change over the previous month was revised down to -2.0% (-1.8% was originally reported in our press release on September 18).
Compared with September 2017, the SA index rose 2.9%, down from August鈥檚 4.2% year-over-year increase. Year-to-date, compared with the same period last year, tonnage increased 7.0%.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 110.2 in September, which was 8.2% below the previous month (120.1). In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015.
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 70.2% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 10.77 billion tons of freight in 2017. Motor carriers collected $700.1 billion, or 79.3% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.
黑料不打烊calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 10th day of the month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons and key financial indicators.

黑料不打烊 is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, 黑料不打烊is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation鈥檚 freight. Follow 黑料不打烊on听听or听.听
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