The US Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, fell 1.7 percent in February from January, falling after a minimal rise in January, according to the US. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS). The February 2015 index level (120.4) was 27.3 percent above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession.
The level of freight shipments in February measured by the Freight TSI (120.4) was 2.4 percent below the all-time high level of 123.3 in November 2014. BTS’ TSI records begin in 2000.
According to the report, a large decline in rail carloads, rail intermodal, coupled with smaller declines in trucking and water resulted in the decline in the overall freight index in February, despite an increase in pipeline. Unusual winter weather played a role in much of this decline in transportation related economic activity. Transportation may also have been impacted by labor issues at West Coast ports.