The Freight Transportation Services Index was unchanged in December from its November level, after one monthly increase, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported today, Feb. 18.
 
BTS reported that though the Freight TSI declined 4.1 percent during 2009 the index increased 2.9 percent over the last seven months of the year, beginning in June. For additional historical data, go to 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 December Freight TSI of 96.2 is a 2.9 percent increase from the recent low of 93.5 reached in May. In May, the index was at its lowest level since June 1997. The Freight TSI is down 14.8 percent from its historic peak of 112.9 reached in May 2006.