Trucking Shows Tepid Growth

Many experts believe that the trucking industry provides one of the more reliable reads on the pulse of the domestic economy, as it gives us clues about the health of both the manufacturing and retail sectors.

That’s why the current numbers are a bit of head-scratcher.

Tonnage itself appeared to be growing and gaining momentum (three-month moving average reached +2.49 on a not seasonally adjusted basis in January). Unfortunately, February and March tonnage was -2.73% and -0.07%, pulling the three-month moving average down to just 0.35%.

Dry van truck loads have now contracted on a YoY basis five out of the last eight months. The most recent month (Feb) reported by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) was down 3.29%,pulling the three-month moving average negative to -0.63%.

The bottom line: trucking industry data released by the ATA was getting better and gaining momentum, but recent tepid results by brick and mortar retailers appear to be taking their toll.

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