Freight volumes moved by US for-hire carriers strengthened in June, according to the American Trucking Associations. The group's advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 2.7% for the month, reaching 120.1 on a scale that sets 2015 equal to 100. The June reading followed a 0.3% gain in May, when the index stood at 116.9, and marked one of the stronger monthly increases in the recent series.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which measures tonnage actually hauled before seasonal factors are applied, came in at 124.5 in June. That figure was 4.2% above the May level of 119.5, reflecting mid-year shipping activity as well as underlying demand.

The tonnage index is closely watched because trucking carries the majority of domestic freight by weight, making the measure a useful gauge of goods movement across manufacturing, retail, and construction supply chains. Month-to-month swings in the index often track shifts in industrial output and inventory restocking. A rising index signals that more freight is being tendered to carriers, which can tighten available capacity and support firmer pricing over time.

The ATA compiles the index from surveys of member carriers and revises earlier figures as additional data arrive. The June increase adds to a period of uneven but generally positive readings, offering a signal that freight demand held up through the first half of 2026.

Source: American Trucking Associations - https://www.trucking.org/news-insights/ata-truck-tonnage-index-increased-27-june