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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO NATIONAL, AND TRANSPORTATION EDITORS:
ATA Truck Tonnage Index Jumped 2.8% in February
ARLINGTON, Va., March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American
Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck
Tonnage Index increased 2.8% in February, after plunging 4.5% the
previous month. January's drop was slightly more than the 4.3%
reported on February 19, 2014. In February, the index equaled 127.6
(2000=100) versus 124.1 in January. The all-time high was in November
2013 (131.0).
Compared with February 2013, the SA index increased 3.6%.
Year-to-date, compared with the same period last year, tonnage is up
2.3%.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in
tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment,
equaled 116.5 in February, which was 4.5% below the previous month
(122).
"It is pretty clear that winter weather had a negative impact on truck
tonnage during February," said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello.
"However, the impact wasn't as bad as in January because of the
backlog in freight due to the number of storms that hit over the
January and February period."
"The fundamentals for truck freight continue to look good," he said.
"Several other economic indicators also snapped back in February. We
have a hole to dig out of from such a bad January, but I feel like we
are moving in the right direction again. I remain optimistic for
2014."
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 68.5%
of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation,
including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 9.4 billion
tons of freight in 2012. Motor carriers collected $642.1 billion, or
80.7% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.
ATA 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.
The American Trucking Associations 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, ATA is the voice of the industry America
depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or
on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100129/ATALOGO
SOURCE American Trucking Associations
-0- 03/18/2014
/CONTACT: Sean McNally, (703) 838-1995, smcnally@trucking.org
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100129/ATALOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
/Web Site: http://www.trucking.org
CO: American Trucking Associations
ST: Virginia
IN: TRN TRT
SU: NPT
PRN
-- DC85579 --
0000 03/18/2014 16:00:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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