Truck Tonnage Index declines in May

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) seasonally adjusted Truck Tonnage Index fell to 144.5 in May 2003, a 5.4% decline compared with the previous month, the lobbying group said recently. Compared with May 2002, the unadjusted index fell 1.3%.

In April 2003, truck tonnage grew 5.2% from March 2003 and 4.7% from April 2002. The index peaked at 157.2 in December 1999. For the past several months, truck tonnage has been in a seesaw pattern, but the underlying trend line has been steadily increasing, ATA chief economist Bob Costello said.

ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership.