CALIFORNIA has experienced a rise in trucking volume in August, with increases noted on export freight moving to Los Angeles and Long Beach, and air freight movement in San Diego International Airport gathered steam.

    This state's export trade was the only bright spot for the country whose trucking activity index fell for a third straight month in August.

    "The only driver is exports," said Ed Leamer, director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast, reported the San Diego North County Times. "California got into this mess earlier and seems like it is healthier than the rest of the nation."

    The August truck index showed that air freight passing through San Diego International Airport increased from 9,000 tons in late summer 2010 to 10,000 tons in July.

    "We are seeing some outbound exports. Long Beach is flat, but Los Angeles is growing," said Jerry Nickelsburg, a senior economist at the firm.

    "Freight movement is picking up slightly," he said of cargo moved via trucks to the airport for shipment internationally.

    Problems ahead for the US trucking industry include higher diesel fuel costs, the shrinkage of domestic manufacturing and construction sectors, and weaker consumer spending.

(source:http://www.schednet.com/home/index.asp?area=news)