Transport Topics (Sept. 22, 2021)

Truck tonnage in August notched its first sequential monthly gain in five months, and dipped just slightly on a year-over-year basis, American Trucking Associations said. The ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.5% in August compared with July. Compared with August 2020, the index saw a 0.5% decline. ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello noted that while August’s monthly gain was small, it was the first gain since March. Costello said broader supply chain issues, like semiconductor shortages, as well as industry-specific difficulties, including the driver shortage and lack of equipment, explain why tonnage has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices