July freight tonnage slips as uneven recovery persists, ATA index shows

Freight tonnage dipped in July, continuing a pattern of uneven recovery in the trucking sector, according to the latest American Trucking Associations (ATA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index. The index fell 1% month-over-month to 113.5 in July from 114.7 in June, marking a 0.5% decline compared to the same period last year. Despite the monthly drop, tonnage remained 1.4% higher through the first seven months of 2026 compared to 2025, driven by strong year-over-year gains from February through April. ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello attributed the uneven recovery to excess capacity leaving the market, though he highlighted data center construction for AI as a bright spot. The index, which uses 2015 as its base year (100), is calculated monthly based on feedback from carriers hauling contract freight.