Truck tire tonnage decreased 0.3% in September after increases in both July and August, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA).
Compared with September 2008, tonnage fell 7.3%, which was the best year-over-year showing since November 2008.
ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said that the latest reading fits with the premise that the recovery will be moderate and choppy.
“The trucking industry should not be alarmed by the very small decrease in September,” says Costello. “We took two steps forward in July and August and this was a miniscule step backward.”
He believes the industry should be prepared for ups and downs in the months ahead, but the general trend should be modest improvement.
“Between most economic indicators recovering and less of an overhang in inventories, I’m confident that the industry is still on the road to recovery.”
