DOT Freight Transportation Index Rises in February

The Department of Transportation’s freight transportation services index rose 3.6% in February from a year ago, DOT said Wednesday.

The freight TSI rose 0.5% incrementally from January to a reading of 110.3. December’s 113.7 reading was an all-time high.

The index uses a baseline 100 reading from the year 2000, according to DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics.

February’s shipments were the second-highest level since the early recession month of April 2008, DOT said. They were 10% over two years earlier, but below the 111.6 level of February 2008.

The freight TSI is a seasonally adjusted monthly index measuring the output of services provided by the for-hire transportation industries, including railroad, air, truck, inland waterways, pipeline and local transit.