American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was unchanged in September, following a gain of 1.6% the previous month. In September the index equaled 132.6, the same as in August and a record high.

Compared with September 2013, the SA index increased 3.7%, down from August’s 4.5% year-over-year gain. Year-to-date, compared with the same period last year, tonnage is up 3.2%.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 135.8 in September which was 1.7% above the previous month (133.5).

“September data was a mixed bag, with retail sales falling while factory output increased nicely,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello. “As a result, I’m not too surprised that truck tonnage split both of those readings and remained unchanged. During the third quarter, truck tonnage jumped 2.4% from the second quarter and surged 4% from the same period last year,” Costello said. He also noted that the third quarter average was the highest on record.

To read the full ATA truck tonnage report, click here.