Tonnage jumps in September
From Transport Topics. Truck tonnage increased on both a sequential and year-over-year basis in September, recording a 2021 high mark amid an environment in which a shortage of drivers and trucks is keeping rigs fully loaded on most runs, American Trucking Associations reported Oct. 19. The ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was 112.9 in September,…
From Transport Topics.
Truck tonnage increased on both a sequential and year-over-year basis in September, recording a 2021 high mark amid an environment in which a shortage of drivers and trucks is keeping rigs fully loaded on most runs, American Trucking Associations reported Oct. 19.
The ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was 112.9 in September, an increase of 1.7% compared with year-ago levels, and up 2.4% compared with August’s 110.2 result. For the purposes of the index, the year 2015=100.
“September’s sequential gain was the largest in 2021,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. “It is good that tonnage rose in September, but it is important to note that this is happening because each truck is hauling more, not from an increase in the amount of equipment operated as contract carriers in the for-hire truckload market continue to shrink from the lack of new trucks and drivers.”
Costello said the industry is short at least 60,000 drivers due to retirements, attrition and other issues. Plus, he noted that capacity among for-hire carriers is constrained as motor carriers park vehicles due to a shortage of drivers to operate them. That’s pushing the tonnage numbers up.
“The drivers of truck freight, including retail, construction and manufacturing, plus a surge in imports, are helping keep demand high for trucking services,” he said.
Meanwhile, the DAT Truckload Volume Index dipped 1% to 229 when measured against August, but the September number still was the highest for any September on record.The DAT Index is an aggregated measure of dry van, refrigerated and flatbed loads moved by truckload carriers each month. DAT said a decline of 7% to 10% is more typical from August to September.
“Businesses are shipping early and, where possible, by truck in order to make sure they have inventory, but this means using the spot market or higher-priced carriers to cover their loads,” DAT Chief of Analytics Ken Adamo said. “If you’re accustomed to having the right truck in the right place at the right price, you can have one or two of those things but probably not all three.”
See the complete article online at Transport Topics.