By Jeff Berman, Group Information Editor ·
March 23, 2021
Harsh winter climate, in February, seems to be the perpetrator for decrease truck tonnage readings, for the month, in accordance information issued at the moment by the American Trucking Associations (ATA).
The ATA’s superior Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Rent Truck Tonnage Index for February—at 110 (2015=100)—decreased 4.5%, from January to February, following a 1.4% (upwardly revised from an authentic studying of 1.4%), from December to January, which got here in at 115.2.
On an annual foundation, February’s SA tonnage studying was off 5.9%, which was steeper than January’s 1.6% annual lower (downwardly revised from an authentic studying of a 2.1% lower), with all of 2020 down 4% in comparison with 2019. ATA officers identified that its For-Rent Truck Tonnage Index “is dominated by contract freight versus spot market freight.”
The ATA’s not seasonally-adjusted (NSA) index, which represents the change in tonnage truly hauled by fleets earlier than any seasonal adjustment and the metric ATA says fleets ought to benchmark their ranges with, got here in at 99.4, which trailed January’s 107.9
“February’s drop was exacerbated, maybe utterly induced, by the extreme winter climate that impacted a lot of the nation through the month,” stated ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello, in an announcement. “Many different financial indicators have been additionally gentle in February because of the dangerous storms, however I proceed to anticipate a pleasant climb up for the economic system and truck freight as financial stimulus checks are spent and extra individuals are vaccinated.”
In a current interview with LM, Costello defined that the continued impression of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly early on, had a serious impression on the trucking market, with a serious rush on sure client staples like meals and paper merchandise previous to circumstances plummeting round Could 2020.
However by the center of 2020 and into the autumn he stated circumstances noticed materials enhancements, as a result of issues like elevated e-commerce exercise and folks shopping for extra items than providers.
“E-commerce is an enormous a part of that,” he stated. “And sure elements of trucking are up nonetheless regardless of the pandemic and is basically associated to the shopping for of client items…definitely round e-commerce. A number of the freight volumes round single-family housing begins is robust, too. Temperature-controlled volumes associated to eating places remains to be off however associated to grocery shops is means up. It has been uncommon in that there have been completely different outcomes relying on which kind of provide chains you might be in and what sort of freight you might be hauling.”
March 23, 2021
Concerning the Creator
Jeff Berman, Group Information Editor
Jeff Berman is Group Information Editor for Logistics Administration, Trendy Supplies Dealing with, and Provide Chain Administration Evaluation. Jeff works and lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, the place he covers all facets of the availability chain, logistics, freight transportation, and supplies dealing with sectors every day. Contact Jeff Berman
Subscribe to Logistics Administration Journal!
Subscribe at the moment. It is FREE!
Get well timed insider info that you need to use to raised handle your complete logistics operation.
Start your FREE subscription today!
