The transportation industry carried 1.2 percent more freight in January than in December, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
January marked the third consecutive month of growth for the freight industry. These shipments were up year-over-year by 1.3 percent.
January’s total was 18 percent higher than the low point of freight transport in April 2009 and represented the highest point since December 2011. The January total is only 2.4 percent off that peak December level.
Trucking showed a large increase in the amount of freight shipped, propelled on by inventory restocking after a drawdown during the fourth quarter of 2012. Wholesale inventories were up 1.2 percent in January. – Jon Ross
Domestic freight transport up in January
