Fuel costs, tonnage keep going up.(Special Report)

Tire Business, April, 2008 by Davis, Bruce

Byline: Bruce Davis

The U.S. trucking industry-and by association, its suppliers as well-appears to be at a tipping point.

On one hand, the industry reported month-on-month increases in tonnage shipped for three straight months through February, while on the other hand industry leaders expressed concern over the impact rising fuel costs are having on truckers.

In terms of tonnage, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) noted the February index for goods shipped was 3.5 percent above February 2007 and at its highest level in more than two years.

That performance, reported in late March, was deemed "encouraging'' by ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello.

"The fact that truck tonnage did not lose any of January's robust...

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