U.S. for-hire truck freight is holding near its highest level in years, signaling firmer conditions across the freight market. Industry reporting on the American Trucking Associations tonnage data shows the for-hire index steady in April at levels not seen since 2022, the point at which the most recent freight downturn began.

The figures point to a market that has worked through excess capacity. After two years of soft rates and thin margins, carriers are seeing demand stabilize, with year-to-date tonnage up 2.6 percent over the same span in 2025. The April reading of 117.8 sat 3.5 percent above the prior year, extending a run of monthly gains.

The recovery carries weight for the wider economy because trucking moves the majority of domestic freight by weight. With the index regaining ground lost during the downturn, market watchers are looking for whether firmer volumes translate into improved pricing power for carriers in the second half of the year. Equipment orders, driver hiring, and spot market rates are among the indicators operators are tracking as the freight cycle turns.

Source: Heavy Duty Trucking - https://www.truckinginfo.com/news/ata-truck-tonnage-holds-steady-in-april-at-highest-levels-since-2022