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Jul 25, 2012 2:22 PM

The American Trucking Associations’ advanced  seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 1.2% in June  after falling 1.0% in May.

  June’s increase was the largest  month-to-month gain in 2012. However, the index contracted a total of 2.1% in  April and May.

  The latest gain increased the SA index to  119.0 (2000=100), up from May’s level of 117.5. Compared with June 2011, the SA  index was 3.2% higher, the smallest year-over-year increase since March 2012.  Year-to-date, compared with the same period last year, tonnage was up 3.7%.

  The not seasonally adjusted index, which  represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any  seasonal adjustment, equaled 123.0 in June, which was 0.9% below the previous  month. 

  For the second quarter, the SA index was off  0.8% from the previous quarter, which was the first decrease in a year.  Compared with the second quarter in 2011, the index was up 3.5%.

  “June’s increase was a pleasant surprise, but  the lower year-over-year gain fits with an economy that has slowed,” ATA Chief  Economist Bob Costello said. “Manufacturing output was strong in June, which  helped tonnage levels.”

  Costello said he’s still concerned about  businesses sitting on cash instead of hiring more workers or spending it on  capital, both of which would give the economy and tonnage a shot in the arm, as  they are worried about Europe and the U.S. fiscal cliff at the end of the year.   Costello lowered his tonnage outlook for 2012 to the 3% to 3.5% range due  to recent economic weakness.