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ATA Forecast Shows Freight Recovery

After a pandemic-induced dip in freight volumes, freight is expected to grow by 7.4% this year.

December 21, 2021
ATA Forecast Shows Freight Recovery

“After falling 6.8% in 2020, freight volumes are set to surge 7.4% this year,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello.

File Photo: Uber Freight

1 min to read


The American Trucking Associations released its annual forecast of the freight economy, which shows a strong rebound and continued growth for freight demand.

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Some key findings of the U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast 2021 to 2032include:

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  • Total freight tonnage will grow from an estimated 15.1 billion tons in 2021 to 19.3 billion tons in 2032 – a 28% increase.

  • While truck’s share of the freight tonnage will slowly decline from 72.2% in 2021 to 71% in 2032 – overall volumes will grow across all segments of the industry: truckload, less-than-truckload and private carrier. Truck tonnage should grow from 10.23 billion tons this year to 13.7 billion tons in 2023.

  • The total revenue derived from primary freight shipments in the U.S. will increase from an estimated $1.083 trillion in 2021 to $1.627 trillion in 2032.

“After falling 6.8% in 2020, freight volumes are set to surge 7.4% this year – and we will see continued growth in freight demand across all modes for the foreseeable future,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello.

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