By
Team Writer
/ February 14, 2017
The December Freight TSI grew due to increases in trucking, pipe line, rail intermodal, and water while air freight and rail car loads are declined. According to the department, it was driven by economic growth from increased industrial production during the month along with gains in employment and personal income.
Key Takeaways:
- The amount of for-hire freight moved across multiple transportation modes increased 1% in December from the month before, marking the third consecutive monthly gain, according to the Transportation Department.
- This latest reading of the Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) also ties the all-time high level hit during July 2016 as December shipments increased 2.9 % from the same time a year ago.
- the November index was revised upward to 123.5 from 123.2 in last month’s release. Monthly numbers for August through October were also revised up slightly while figures from January through June 2016 were revised down slightly.
“The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in for-hire freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index and includes the output from trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.”