US truck freight tonnage experienced a 0.3% decline in April 2025, following a 1.5% decrease in March, according to the American Trucking Associations’ For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index. This drop highlights the continued instability within the freight market and dims hopes for a swift recovery. The April index registered at 113.0 (2015=100), showing a modest 0.1% year-over-year increase, the lowest in the past four months.
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This freight market volatility is likely driven by tariffs and softening economic indicators, casting doubt on earlier recovery predictions for the year, according to ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. Trucking plays a vital role in the US economy, transporting over 72% of freight by tonnage and generating $906 billion in revenue in 2024. The ATA Tonnage Index primarily reflects contract freight activity, not spot market freight.
Load-to-Truck Ratio
Post-Memorial Day, dry van load postings saw a 3% uptick, nearly matching last year’s numbers with only a 1% deficit. Truck postings on DAT surged 18% from the previous week. These dynamics resulted in the dry van load-to-truck ratio declining by 10% to 5.46 last week.
Linehaul spot rates
Dry van linehaul spot rates remained flat averaging $1.69/mile last week, which is $0.04 higher than the same period last year and the same as in 2023.
The average rate on DAT’s top 50 lanes, based on load volume, was $2.02/mile. This is $0.02 higher than the previous week and $0.33 higher than the national 7-day rolling average spot rate.
In 13 key Midwest states, representing 45% of national load volume and generally indicative of national trends, spot rates rose by $0.01 per mile. This increase occurred alongside a significant 36% surge in outbound load volume following the Memorial Day holiday week. Carriers in this region averaged $1.90 per mile, surpassing the national 7-day rolling average by $0.21.
