ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations (ATA) recorded a 0.4 percent increase in its Truck Tonnage Index for December, signaling a modest stabilization in freight movement as the calendar turned. This gain represents the second consecutive month of growth, providing a thin layer of relief following a volatile stretch of sharp declines earlier in the fall.
Freight levels remain historically subdued despite this recent uptick. The ATA’s seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index climbed to 112.9 in December, up from 112.4 in November. While this suggests a potential floor for current freight demand, the figures underscore a broader trend of stagnation. The index, which uses 2015 as a baseline of 100, shows that while for-hire carriers saw a 0.9 percent increase year-over-year in December, the fourth quarter as a whole suffered a 1.8 percent sequential decline from the third quarter. This represents the most significant quarterly drop since mid-2023.
Bob Costello, chief economist for the ATA, points to structural economic headwinds that continue to stifle a more robust recovery. Manufacturing and construction sectors, both primary drivers of heavy-haul demand, remained sluggish throughout the end of the year. Although 2025 finished with a 0.1 percent annual gain over 2024—the first positive year since 2022—the contraction of 2.7 percent seen during September and October continues to weigh heavily on the balance sheets of many trucking companies hiring today.
What This Means for Drivers
For the average CDL-A driver, these numbers confirm the frustration of operating in a soft spot market. Owner-operator margins remain under pressure as volume growth fails to keep pace with rising operational costs and the lingering effects of a weak industrial sector. If you are an OTR truck driver, expect continued competition for consistent lanes until manufacturing output regains sustained momentum. Drivers looking for stability should prioritize carriers with diversified freight bases that are less reliant on the volatile construction and manufacturing cycles mentioned in the ATA report.
Industry Reaction
The industry remains in a cautious holding pattern. While the back-to-back monthly gains offered by the ATA index provide a glimmer of optimism, major carriers are not yet signaling a full-scale return to the high-volume environment seen in previous years. Analysts suggest that until interest rates and industrial demand align to pull manufacturing out of its slump, the trucking sector will likely see these incremental, fragile improvements rather than a sudden surge in demand.
Key Points
- The ATA Truck Tonnage Index rose by 0.4 percent in December.
- Fourth-quarter tonnage fell by 1.8 percent compared to the third quarter of 2025.
- Annual tonnage for 2025 increased by only 0.1 percent over 2024 levels.
- Sluggish construction and manufacturing activity remain the primary constraints on freight volume.
Looking for a better trucking job? US Trucker's free job-matching service connects CDL-A drivers, OTR drivers, regional drivers, and owner-operators with 500+ top US carriers. Leave your details in the form on this page and a recruiter will call you within one business day. Trucking companies are hiring now.