ATA said the monthly increase was a welcome sight, but it did not erase the 5% decrease in May. However, the year-over-year increase of 5.5% from June of last year is a good sign, according to the lobbying group.

“The key economic drivers of truck freight, like manufacturing output and retail sales, increased in June so it isn’t too surprising that tonnage followed suit,” said Bob Costello, ATA’s chief economist.

For the first half of the year, truck tonnage increased 3.9% compared to the same six-month period in 2002.