The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), fell 0.4% in August from July, falling for the second consecutive month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). From August 2025 to August 2026 the index fell 3.0%. The Freight TSI measures the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry.

The Freight TSI decreased in August due to decreases in rail carloads, rail intermodal, trucking, and water while air freight and pipeline volumes increased. Freight TSI is now at its lowest level since September 2021.

The freight transportation index consists of:
• For-hire trucking,
• Railroad freight services (including rail based intermodal shipments such as containers on flat cars),
• Inland waterways transportation,
• Pipeline transportation (including principally petroleum and petroleum products and natural gas), and
• Air freight.

The index does not include international or coastal waterborne movements, private trucking, courier services, or the US Postal Service.

 

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