National Average Price for Regular – Current: $2.255; Month Ago: $2.324; Year Ago: $2.217. National Average Price for Diesel – Current: $2.444; Month Ago: $2.488; Year Ago: $2.360.

“After declines in November and December totaling 1.7%, tonnage was unchanged in January” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “This outcome is impressive considering the massive winter storm that brought cold temperatures and significant snowfalls to large parts of the country, including those that rarely see such storms. Furthermore, the terrible wildfires in California likely also caused freight disruptions. Softness in manufacturing and retail sales continue to be a drag on truck freight volumes as well, so the fact tonnage was flat is a positive sign.” In January, the ATA advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 111.9 the same as December. The index, which is based on 2015 as 100, was up 0.3% from the same month last year, the first year-over-year increase since August. The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 110 in January, 1.1% above December’s reading of 108.9.

Import cargo at the nation’s major container ports is expected to drop dramatically beginning next month. That’s according to the latest Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. (The report was released the day before President Trump gave a 90-day break on most of the new reciprocal tariffs that were set to go into effect while, at the same time, raising duties on China to 125%, effective immediately.) Imports during the second half of 2025 are expected to be down at least 20% year-over-year, said Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett. Even balanced against elevated levels earlier this year, that could bring total 2025 cargo volume to a net decline of 15% or more unless the situation changes.