ACT Research’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 four points above the year-to-date average.

“On a seasonally adjusted basis the freight volume index rose sequentially, to the second best reading of 2017,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT Research’s president and senior analyst. “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 more than 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,” Vieth said. “This is the strongest revenue per mile reading since July 201.”