3-Minute Update: Key Transportation News
March 27, 2025
Trucking Activity Surges 3% in February
After a two-year recession, the transportation industry is relieved to see this substantial recent jump in truck tonnage in the United States, up 3% in February. This is the largest sequential increase in a few years and industry experts are optimistic about the gain. ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello recently shared “Some of the gain in February was due to accelerated imports early in the year as shippers rushed to bring products into the U.S. before tariffs hit. Even accounting for this, the first two months of the year were positive, all things considered, indicating that the freight recovery has indeed begun.”[i]
Industry Snapshot:
Fuel Prices:
The gasoline index decreased -3.1% over the past 12 months.[ii] The U.S. regular gasoline retail prices averaged $3.115 per gallon on 03/24/25, which is $-0.408 down from the average a year ago. And the retail diesel prices were $3.567 per gallon on average, $-0.467 down from one year ago.[iii]
Tonnage:
The for-hire truck tonnage index increased 3.3% in February after a slight decline of 0.1% in January. “In February, the ATA advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 115.2, up from 111.9 in January. The index, which is based on 2015 as 100, was up 0.6% from the same month last year, the second straight year-over-year increase, which hasn’t happened since early 2023.”[iv]
Economy:
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 2.8% over the last 12 months, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI rose 0.2% in February 2025 after rising 0.5% in January 2025. The index for shelter rose 0.3% in February, accounting for nearly half of the monthly all-items increase. The food index increased 0.2% in February, as the index for food away from home increased 0.4 percent. The food-at-home index was unchanged from the last month. The energy index rose 0.2% over the previous month because of increases in electricity and natural gas. There were some decreases to offset the increases, the gasoline index with a 1.0% decrease and the index for airline fares with a 4.0% decrease.[v]
Simple’s Takeaways from Food Shippers’ Annual FSA Conference 2025
Simple Logistics was thrilled to be a golf sponsor at The 69th Annual Food Shippers Conference held earlier this month in Palm Desert, CA. The conference offered meaningful discussions on various topics, including technology for optimizing operations, the significant rise in cargo theft over the past few years, and the impact of inflation and tariffs on freight. Over 1,300 supply chain professionals and food industry providers attended the event to network and share knowledge.
From Left: (1) Dustin Wagner, EVP of Sales at Simple Logistics, enjoys a day on the course at the beautiful J.W. Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, CA. (2) Simple Logistics is featured as a golf sponsor at The Annual Food Shippers Conference 2025. (3) Simple Logistics team members: Jeff Paul, Jim Caine, Dustin Wagner, and Dan Matkovic at the event.
“This conference is a great opportunity to build on current relationships and establish new ones,” explains Jim Caine, COO at Simple Logistics. “We were able to spend quality time with our shippers, discussing not only our future plans and how we can make their lives ‘SIMPLE,’ but also sharing personal insights and what they are looking forward to in their lives.”
“Although we did plan ahead for some meetings at this event, many connections we made came from spontaneous referrals and enjoyable, meaningful conversations. The 69th Food Shippers event was a success for Simple, and we’re looking forward to 2025.”
Learn more about the key focus areas of the conference, read The Food Shippers of America Blog on the 2025 Conference.
Work with a team who will streamline and simplify your logistics, we do the complicated stuff for you. Experience the benefits of shipping with Simple! Call us today at 630-385-7400.
[i] https://www.trucking.org/news-insights/ata-truck-tonnage-index-jumped-3-february
[ii] https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm
[iii] https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/
[iv] https://www.trucking.org/news-insights/ata-truck-tonnage-index-jumped-3-february
