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ATA Truck Tonnage Index Increased 1.6 Percent in November

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 28, 2004--The American Trucking Associations' (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted Truck Tonnage Index increased 1.6 percent to 160.0 (1993=100) in November, the national association for the trucking industry reported today. This increase followed a revised 0.1 percent decrease in October.

Compared to November 2003, the unadjusted index surged 12.1 percent. Year-to-date, compared to the same eleven-month period in 2003, truck tonnage was up a solid 6.5 percent.

"November's gain was the largest month-to-month increase since April of this year and put the tonnage index at its highest level since June," said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. "This increase placed the truck tonnage index at its third highest level ever, behind April and June of this year, and was the best November increase since 1994. We continue to remain optimistic about the truck freight demand situation going into 2005," he said.

Trucks hauled 9.1 billion tons of freight in 2003, or 68.9 percent of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation. Motor carriers collected $610 billion dollars, or 86.9 percent of total revenue earned by all transport modes.

ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the seventh day of every month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its fifty affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

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