For-Hire Freight Falls for Second Straight Month
A measure of total for-hire freight movements in the U.S. fell for the second straight month in April, according to a report issued Wednesday by Transportation Department.

Freight Transportation Services Index, April 2012 - April 2017. Graphic: U.S. DOT

A measure of total for-hire freight movements in the U.S. fell for the second straight month in April, according to a report issued Wednesday by Transportation Department.
Its Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.6% in April from March after reaching an all-time high in February and is down 2.3% since then. When April is compared to the same time a year ago it increased 0.8%.
The March index was revised downward to 123.5 from 124 in last month’s release while the February figure was also revised down slightly.
The Freight TSI, which is seasonally-adjusted, measures the month-to-month changes in for-hire freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index. It 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.
The April decrease in the Freight TSI was broad based, with declines in all freight transportation modes except air freight and trucking.
According to the department, the decrease took place despite growth in other economic indicators in April. The Federal Reserve Board’s Industrial Production index grew by 1% with growth in manufacturing, mining, and utilities while employment and personal income both grew in April. However, housing starts declined, while the Institute for Supply Management’s Purchasing Managers’ Index showed positive but slowing growth.
The two-month decline in the index represents the third time it has decreased for two months in a row since the beginning of 2015, though it represents a more modest decrease than that of August/September 2016.
The Transportation Department said research has shown a clear relationship between economic cycles and the Freight TSI as well as its separate Passenger Transportation Services Index.
More Fleet Management

How Innovative Trucking Leaders Turn Change Into an Advantage
As the pace of change accelerates in trucking, the fleets that adapt best have more than the latest technology. They have cultures that embrace improvement.
Read More →
Freight Broker Bonds Just Got Harder to Get. Here's What That Means for Your Fleet.
When it gets harder for a freight broker to prove they are financially sound, the ones who cannot clear that bar get pushed out of the market. And those are exactly the brokers who used to leave motor carriers holding the bag.
Read More →
Long-Awaited Canadian Border Bridge to Open in Detroit
For trucking, the bridge opening should offer immediate improvements in efficiency and reliability, with new customs facilities, expanded inspection capacity, and direct freeway-to-freeway connections.
Read More →
Aurora Rolls Out Next Generation of Driverless Trucks for Commercial Freight
Aurora's latest autonomous trucks it's rolling out with International feature lower-cost hardware designed for a million miles as the company expands commercial driverless freight operations across the U.S. Sun Belt.
Read More →
Freight Tonnage Down, Rates up, as Lower Capacity Powers Trucking Recovery
The recovery from the freight recession continues to be driven by reduction in capacity rather than by increased demand.
Read More →
Think Your Trucking Fleet Isn't Using Much AI? Think Again
Shadow AI — the use of unauthorized artificial intelligence tools at work — is becoming increasingly common, putting sensitive company data at risk. Learn how trucking fleets can protect sensitive data while embracing AI.
Read More →
ArcBest Consolidates Brands, Cuts Workforce
The company will bring three business units under the ArcBest brand, eliminate about 2% of positions, and expects the changes to generate $40 million in annual savings.
Read More →
Trucking Fleets Faced Record Operating Costs During Third Year of Freight Recession
ATRI's annual operational cost report shows carriers trimmed fleets, delayed equipment purchases, and ran older trucks as expenses continued to outpace freight rates.
Read More →
Michelin Adds AI Assistant to MyConnectedFleet Platform
Michelin’s new generative AI tool delivers instant fleet insights, helping managers analyze fuel use, tire maintenance, vehicle status, and operational performance without manually creating reports.
Read More →
LytxOne Platform Now Features AI, Compliance, and Asset Tracking Tools
New enhancements add AI-powered insights, asset tracking, compliance automation, and configurable privacy controls to Lytx's all-in-one fleet management platform.
Read More →
