U.S. trucking activity declined in July as freight demand remained uneven across much of the economy. According to the American Trucking Associations, its advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 1% in July 2026, following a 1.5% increase in June. The latest numbers suggest that the freight market remains volatile despite signs that conditions are gradually improving for carriers.
The seasonally adjusted index registered 113.5 in July, down from 114.7 in June. ATA uses 2015 as the index’s baseline of 100. Compared with July 2025, truck tonnage decreased 0.5%, reversing June’s 1.2% year-over-year increase. ATA also revised June’s reading upward from its originally reported figure.
Despite July’s decline, year-to-date tonnage remained 1.4% higher than during the same period in 2025. Much of that improvement resulted from relatively strong year-over-year gains recorded between February and April. However, more recent monthly results demonstrate that the freight market has not entered a consistent period of demand growth.
ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello described recent tonnage levels as “choppy,” noting that July continued that pattern. Freight activity has remained lackluster in many areas, although certain sectors are performing better. One notable area of strength is construction connected to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers, which continues generating freight demand for building materials and related equipment.
At the same time, ATA believes the trucking industry is experiencing a recovery. However, Costello said that improvement is being driven primarily by excess trucking capacity leaving the market rather than significant growth in freight demand. As carriers exit or reduce operations, available capacity becomes tighter, which can gradually improve market conditions for companies that remain.
ATA’s not seasonally adjusted index, which measures the actual amount of freight hauled without seasonal adjustments, reached 117 in July. That represented a 0.9% decrease from June’s reading of 118.
Truck tonnage remains an important indicator of broader U.S. economic activity because trucks transport a significant share of domestic freight. According to ATA, trucking represents 72.7% of the tonnage moved by all domestic freight transportation modes. Trucks hauled approximately 11.27 billion tons of freight in 2024, while motor carriers generated about $906 billion in revenue, representing 76.9% of total revenue across transportation modes.
ATA’s tonnage indexes primarily measure contract freight rather than traditional spot-market activity. Because contract freight represents a substantial portion of trucking operations, the index provides insight into underlying shipment activity across manufacturing, retail, and other major sectors. ATA has calculated the index using surveys of its motor carrier members since the 1970s.
July’s decline reinforces the mixed outlook facing trucking companies. Capacity reductions may continue helping rebalance the market, but stronger and more consistent freight demand will likely be necessary before the industry experiences a broader recovery in shipment volumes.
Source: American Trucking Associations — ATA Truck Tonnage Index Fell 1% in July
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