ACT For-Hire Trucking Volumes Down Despite Economic Growth

Feb 07, 2025 at 03:35 PM CST
The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated that slower growth in for-hire trucking volumes outweighed the slight contraction in capacity in December. The Volume Index (see the chart above) decreased by 1 point in December to 51.0, seasonally adjusted, from 52.0 in November. “Despite the economy continuing to exceed expectations, particularly consumer spending, for-hire trucking volumes have yet to find meaningful purchase out of the trough,” said Carter Vieth, Research Analyst at ACT Research. “While freight is growing broadly, two years of private fleet capacity additions have diminished for-hire carriers’ slice of the freight pie. Additionally, while the retail sector is healthy, interest rate-sensitive sectors like manufacturing and construction are sluggish. Tighter financial conditions are likely to slow volumes in these sectors, despite support from hurricanes and wildfires.”

Feb 07, 2025 at 03:35 PM CST

The latest release of ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated that slower growth in for-hire trucking volumes outweighed the slight contraction in capacity in December.

The Volume Index (see the chart above) decreased by 1 point in December to 51.0, seasonally adjusted, from 52.0 in November.

“Despite the economy continuing to exceed expectations, particularly consumer spending, for-hire trucking volumes have yet to find meaningful purchase out of the trough,” said Carter Vieth, Research Analyst at ACT Research. “While freight is growing broadly, two years of private fleet capacity additions have diminished for-hire carriers’ slice of the freight pie. Additionally, while the retail sector is healthy, interest rate-sensitive sectors like manufacturing and construction are sluggish. Tighter financial conditions are likely to slow volumes in these sectors, despite support from hurricanes and wildfires.”