News

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.7 percent in August from its July level, the second consecutive monthly increase, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today (Table 1).

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the Freight TSI has now gone four consecutive months without a decline after dropping in 9 of the previous 12 months (Table 2). This is the first four month period without a decline in the index since 2002.

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments in ton-miles, which are then combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

According to USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood, “The continued rise of the freight transportation service index is evidence that America is moving towards economic recovery. The impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other actions taken by this Administration are only beginning to be felt around the nation, but economic data like this should give us hope that our worst days are behind us.  However, there is still a long road ahead and we will not let this positive sign lull us into complacency. This Administration remains committed to investing in transportation in order to insure a prosperous future.”