Iraqi forces advanced toward the disputed city of Kirkuk, as the government sharply intensified its efforts to stall moves toward a Kurdish state by seizing the oil fields that would underpin its economy. Crude exports from the disputed area were flowing normally on Monday. State-run Iraqiya television said the military had also captured a refinery, a gas plant and a main road in Kirkuk, which has emerged as a flashpoint in the power struggle between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government. The Associated Press reported that Kurdish fighters had abandoned their positions outside Kirkuk’s airport while civilians were fleeing the city, where sporadic gunfire could be heard. Click Read More below for additional information.

American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 1.7% in April after decreasing 2.8% in March. In April, the index equaled 112.7 (2015=100) compared with 114.7 in March. “While the broader economy continues to surprise and thus far stave off an expected recession, the freight economy is starkly different,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “The goods-portion of the economy is soft and as a result, even contract truck freight is now falling, albeit not nearly as much as the spot market. The tonnage index hit the lowest level since September 2021 in April and has now fallen on a year-over-year basis for two straight months.” March’s decline was revised up from our April 18 press release. Compared with April 2022, the SA index decreased 3.4%, which was the largest year-over-year decrease since February 2021. In March, the index was down 2.4% from a year earlier.

Trucking on the open road has long been a symbol of freedom, opportunity, and resolve. Now, a new documentary series titled DRIVEN shines a spotlight on the dedicated professionals behind the wheel who keep our nation rolling through good times and bad—and the millions more who work throughout the industry to deliver for America. DRIVEN was produced by the American Trucking Associations—in association with ACT 1 and the Texas Trucking Association Foundation—as part of its Nothing Without Trucking campaign, which educates policymakers and the public about the indispensable role trucking plays in Americans’ lives. Beginning with professional drivers, the series plans to document the vast array of roles throughout trucking that come together to form an unbreakable bond in the U.S. supply chain.