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Truck tonnage decreased 0.7% in December, the third and final year-over-year decline in 2016 in the monthly index from American Trucking Associations, but analysts and economists remain optimistic that 2017 will a better year for the industry.

Truck tonnage increased 5.7% in November versus one year ago, the first year-over-year increase since August in the American Trucking Associations monthly index in 2016, a sign that the trucking industry could be turning a corner and heading towards a better 2017.

Truck tonnage sagged 0.9% in October versus one year ago, the second consecutive decline in the American Trucking Associations monthly index in 2016, despite other positive economic numbers in the retail, manufacturing and industrial sectors.

U.S. truck tonnage fell 5.8% in September, reversing the positive trend in August and marking the first year-over-year decline in the American Trucking Associations index since October 2015.

U.S. truck tonnage jumped 5.9% in August, the largest year-over-year gain for the American Trucking Associations index since May — an increase attributed to volatility rather than clear economic growth.

Truck tonnage in July continued to reflect a struggling freight environment, posting a 0.3% year-over-year gain that was the smallest this year, and declining 2.1% from June, American Trucking Associations reported.