U.S. trucking added 8,100 jobs in June’s economic upturn

Though the surge in coronavirus cases entering July threatens to stall the recent recovery momentum of the U.S. economy, June data revealed a strong month for trucking. 

Total employment in the for-hire trucking industry rose by 8,100 jobs in the month, according to the Department of Labour’s (DOL’s) preliminary Employment Situation Report for June. 

That builds on May’s gains of 2,000, which followed a massive loss in April — 92,000 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the DOL.

Trucking industry employment totalled 1,440,700 in June — its lowest point since late 2014, the prior two months aside.

Construction and manufacturing freights both saw big gains in the month — 158,000 and 356,000 jobs added, respectively. But both are still well shy of their March figures, having gained back just about half of the jobs lost in April.

Per-mile spot market rates jumped in all three major truckload segments in June, rallying from the March-to-April spot market crash, in which rates plummeted as shelter orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and as restocking from the March panic buying subsided.

For more information visit www.dol.gov

6th July 2020