Lorries load loads
In June trucks on the USA’s highways transported slightly more goods than in previous months, as shown by an index published by American Trucking Associations. The continuation of the positive trend depends on how the outbreak of Covid-19 develops.
Even though the outbreak of Covid-19 is continuing to have a major impact on the USA, the country’s important road haulage sector has reported a slight recovery. An index from American Trucking Associations (ATA), which reflects the amount of goods transported, increased by 8.7% in June, thus returning to the level of April 2019. ATA chief economist Bob Costello wasn’t surprised by the rise, “as more states lifted restrictions in June.” The ATA has also already ascertained positive signals for July. Costello added that the ATA is concerned that progress could slow down again, however, as more states may reinstate restrictions, due to increasing cases of Covid-19.
The June decline represented the index’s third successive monthly fall year-on-year, though it was the smallest over that period. Overall tonnage was down by 2.4% compared to the same six months of 2019. Trucking is a key barometer of the national economy, ATA added, as it handles 73% of all goods carried domestically. The country’s trucks hauled nigh-on 12 billion t of freight overall in 2019, with motor carriers collecting almost USD 800 billion in revenues. These figures will definitely come in substantially lower this year.