US Truck Tonnage Hits Three-Year Peak in February

Truck tonnage in the United States reached its highest level in three years in February, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The advanced seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index rose to 116.2, up from 113.3 in January. This follows a 0.7% increase in January, signalling a steady rebound in freight activity after a prolonged slowdown.

Year-on-Year Growth Shows Strongest Gain Since 2022

The February index also marked a 2.1% increase compared to the same month last year, representing the largest year-over-year gain since October 2022. Analysts note that the growth is particularly encouraging given the lower industry capacity, which may have magnified the size of the gain. Bob Costello, ATA’s chief economist, said, “Improving volumes in any manner is welcomed, especially following a very prolonged freight recession.”

Early 2026 Trends and Raw Tonnage

For the first two months of 2026, total tonnage is up 1.4% compared to the same period in 2025. The not seasonally adjusted index, which measures raw changes in freight hauled, stood at 106.9 in February, slightly below January’s 108.5. The tonnage index is derived from surveys of ATA members, with contract freight forming the majority of reported volumes, reflecting a strengthening U.S. freight market and improving transportation demand.