The American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.5% in February after falling 4.6% in January.  (January's decrease was more than the preliminary 4% drop we reported on February 28^th.) The latest gain put the SA index at 119.3 (2000=100), up from January's level of 118.7.  Compared with February 2011, the SA index was up 5.5%, better than January's 3.1% increase. 

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 112.9 in February, which was 1.3% above the previous month. 

"Fleets told us that February was decent and that played out in the numbers," ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said.   Costello noted that February's month-to-month increase was sixth in the last seven months. 

"I'm still expecting continued truck tonnage growth going forward.  Rising manufacturing activity and temperate consumer spending should be helped a little from an improving housing market," he said.

To see more of Costello's thoughts on tonnage and the economy, click here.