The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.2 percent in October from its September level, rising for the second consecutive month, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today.  
     

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the Freight TSI has risen 5.7 percent over the last 17 months, starting in June 2009, after declining 15.3 percent in the previous 10 months beginning in August 2008. The index has increased in 13 of the last 17 months.  Through the first 10 months of 2010, however, the index declined 0.7 percent. For additional historic data, go to http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml
     
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.
     
The October Freight TSI of 98.9 is a 5.7 percent increase from the recent low of 93.5 reached in May 2009. In May 2009, the index was at its lowest level since June 1997. The October Freight TSI is down 12.4 percent from its historic peak of 112.9 reached in May 2006. 
     
See Freight TSI Press Release for summary tables and additional data. See Transportation Services Index for historic data and methodology.