Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

DOT Freight Index Near All-Time High Despite Slight Drop

The U.S. Transportation Department’s Freight Transportation Services Index declined 0.9% in June from May, falling after four consecutive monthly increases, according to numbers released Wednesday.

by Staff
August 13, 2014
DOT Freight Index Near All-Time High Despite Slight Drop

Five Years: Freight Transportation Services Index, June 2009 - June 2014. Graphic: U.S. DOT

2 min to read


The U.S. Transportation Department’s Freight Transportation Services Index declined 0.9% in June from May, falling after four consecutive monthly increases, according to numbers released Wednesday.

Ad Loading...

The June 2014 index level of 119.1 is still 25.9% above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession and very close to the all-time high reached this past May, which was revised downward to 120 from an earlier reported 120.2.

Ad Loading...

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments by transportation mode in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index, based on output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

Five Years: Freight Transportation Services Index, June 2009 - June 2014. Graphic: U.S. DOT

The index for each freight mode declined in June with the largest drop in pipelines. The declines took place when construction spending, which often is a driver of transportation shipments, declined in June after several months of increases, according to DOT. Construction spending declined although there was growth in several other economic indicators.

Despite the decrease, the freight index was higher in each month of the second quarter of 2014 than it was in any month of the first quarter of 2014 when weather impacted transportation. The Freight TSI rose 0.2% in the April to June period after falling 0.2% in the first quarter.

June was also the third consecutive month in which the index reached the levels that had been attained prior to the weather-related downturn in the early part of the year, even though the June index was below the level reached in the previous two months.

Year-to-date freight shipments measured by the index were virtually unchanged in June compared to the end of 2013.

Ad Loading...

June 2014 freight shipments were up 2.8% from June 2013

Freight shipments are up 24.1% in the five years from the post-recession level of June 2009 and are up 7.5% in the 10 years from June 2004. 

More Fleet Management

Illustration with stacks of money and a shattered car windshield
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeApril 13, 2026

Bill in House Would Raise Minimum Insurance for Motor Carriers to $5 Million

The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act would increase insurance requirements for interstate motor carriers by nearly seven times.

Read More →
FTR market report for February 2026.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 10, 2026

FTR Trucking Conditions Index Hits Four-Year High in February

Strong freight rates push TCI to 10.2, but FTR expects fuel-price volatility to skew March results.

Read More →
C.H. Robinson intermodal.

C.H. Robinson Offers Carriers Relief as Diesel Prices Surge

C.H. Robinson is waiving fees on fuel cards and cash advances for April and May, aiming to help carriers offset rising diesel costs tied to geopolitical instability.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Fleet Managementby StaffApril 8, 2026

What Trucking Events are Happening in 2026?

Looking for trucking-related conventions, expos, and other events? Heavy Duty Trucking has developed this list of national and larger regional trucking shows and events.

Read More →
Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsApril 6, 2026

Volvo’s Quiet Confidence Turns into a Full-Throated Bet on the Future

After years of steady, methodical progress, Peter Voorhoeve says the OEM’s latest lineup isn’t just evolutionary. It’s delivering real, measurable gains for fleets right now.

Read More →
Beyond Trucks Rate Agent TMS.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsApril 2, 2026

BeyondTrucks Targets Rate Complexity with New AI RateAgents

BeyondTrucks says its new RateAgents can turn plain-language rate logic into working code, starting with fuel surcharges — a critical but notoriously complex piece of carrier revenue.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Magnus Koeck, vice president of strategy, marketing, and brand management, Volvo Trucks North America
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsApril 2, 2026

Volvo Sees Market ‘Tipping Point’ as New VNL Orders Surge

Soft freight conditions persist, but aging fleets, strong order intake, and new-product momentum signal a more optimistic second half of 2026, Volvo Trucks North America says.

Read More →
Illustration of a semi-trailer with a sports playbook diagram on chalkboard
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeApril 1, 2026

Cargo Theft’s New Playbook: Strategic Fraud, Double Brokering, and Cybercrime Hit Trucking

Cargo theft is evolving from regional smash-and-grab operations to sophisticated fraud schemes. Strategic theft now accounts for roughly a third of cargo crime, with incidents rising sharply in recent years. Here’s how the schemes work — and what fleets can do to protect themselves.

Read More →
Collage of Top 20 Product award ceremonies
EquipmentMarch 31, 2026

HDT Honors the Best New Products of 2025 at TMC [Photos]

Heavy Duty Trucking's Top 20 Products awards recognize the best new products and technologies. Check out the award presentations at the 2026 Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
freightliner whitepaper
SponsoredMarch 31, 2026

Detroit Engines: Trusted Performance, Built for What's Next

The Detroit® Gen 6 engine platform proves that real progress doesn’t require a complete redesign. Built on 20 years of trusted technology, these engines are designed for efficiency, stronger performance, and greater reliability than before. And they do it all while complying with 2027 EPA standards on every mile.

Read More →