Trucking At A Glance

Will more U.S. jobs lead to more freight for truckers to haul? How are small businesses doing? And what is the latest on truck tonnage?

Here’s a look at the trucking economy in brief. U.S. companies added 237,000 workers in June, and that could spell good news for truckers and everyone else. That’s the highest number of jobs added in 6 months and considerably more than analysts were expecting. More jobs usually translate into more spending, and more goods for truckers to haul. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck transportation gained 9,000 jobs in April following a loss of 7,000 jobs in March.

A survey by Time Magazine indicates that trucking companies that make less than $5 million a year make up the fastest-growing small-business industry in the U.S. The survey by Sageworks financial analysts says small business general freight hauling has seen a 25 percent increase in business while building and construction trucking is up 17 percent. A strengthening of the overall economy was cited as the driving force.

After dropping by more than a percentage point in April, the number of tons carried by U.S. trucks was up just over 1 percent in May according to the American Trucking Associations. ATA’s chief economist says that tonnage isn’t very strong right now because factory output is sluggish.