ATA Truck Tonnage Holds Steady in April at Highest Levels Since 2022
The U.S. trucking activity was flat in April following a 1% increase in March, according to the American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.
This pause in growth is more impressive when considering that the index increased a total of 4.7% since the end of 2025 and hasn't decreased so far in 2026.
The seasonally adjusted index measured 117.8 in April, up 3.5% year over year.
Through the first four months of 2026, tonnage increased 2.6% compared to the same period a year earlier.
Freight demand remains strong after the index climbed 4.7% since the end of 2025, indicating that the transportation sector continues to play a vital role in the broader economy.
The association's tonnage index is based largely on contract freight and is calculated from surveys of ATA member carriers, providing valuable insights into the state of the transportation industry.
Trucking continues to serve as a key economic indicator, representing 72.7% of all domestic freight tonnage.
In 2024, trucks hauled 11.27 billion tons of freight, generating $906 billion in revenue, further solidifying the sector's importance in the U.S. economy.
The ATA's tonnage index is based largely on contract freight and is calculated from surveys of member carriers, providing valuable insights into the state of the transportation industry.
