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.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the Freight TSI has risen 4.7 percent over the last 13 months, starting in June 2009. The index has increased in 10 of the last 13 months.
Through the first six months of 2010, the index declined 1.6 percent. However, the June Freight TSI of 97.9 is a 4.7 percent increase from the recent low of 93.5 reached in May 2009.
The TSI is a seasonally adjusted index that measures changes from the monthly average of the base year of 2000. It includes historic data from 1990 to the present. Release of the July index is scheduled for Sept. 9.