The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated that August’s freight volume reading advanced for the eighth consecutive month to 67.0, actual and seasonally adjusted. August’s freight reading represents an almost 10 point jump above July and 4 points above the year-to-date average. Please note that the survey was conducted in early September, after Hurricane Harvey but prior to Hurricane Irma.

“On a seasonally adjusted basis the fright volume index rose sequentially, to the second best reading of 2017,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT Research’s President and Senior Analyst. He continued, “The readings we have been seeing the past several months are in-line with anecdotes from truckers of meaningful improvements in freight since late May, early June.” Twelve percent of respondents reported having significant gains, 53% percent had modest increases, and 27% were flat. The remaining fleets had modest decreases.

The pricing index climbed over five points from July to 65.4, which is the highest reading since March 2014. “Seasonal adjustment advances the index to 66.4 from 65 in July,” noted Vieth. “This is the strongest revenue per mile reading since July 2011,” he concluded.