The American Trucking Associations reported that its seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index held at 117.8 in April 2026, unchanged from March. The index has increased 4.7% since the end of 2025 and remains at its highest level since the fall of 2022, signaling continued strength in freight volumes despite broader economic uncertainty.
ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello noted that April's flat reading is more impressive given the gains already recorded in the first quarter. The index rose 3.5% year-over-year in April and is up 2.6% on average for the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
Contract freight dominates both the seasonally adjusted and non-seasonally adjusted indices. The not seasonally adjusted index registered 116.8 in April, 3.4% below March's reading of 120.9, reflecting typical seasonal patterns in raw hauling activity. Trucking represents 72.7% of tonnage carried by all domestic freight modes.