Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

For-Hire Freight Shipments Fall for Second Straight Month

A new U.S. Transportation Department report shows the total amount of for-hire freight moved in the country fell 0.6% in September from the month before, the second consecutive monthly drop.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
November 9, 2016
For-Hire Freight Shipments Fall for Second Straight Month

Freight Transportation Services Index, September 2011 - September 2016. Graphic: U.S. DOT

2 min to read


Freight Transportation Services Index, September 2011 - September 2016.Graphic: U.S. DOT

A new U.S. Transportation Department report shows the total amount of for-hire freight moved in the country fell 0.6% in September from the month before, the second consecutive monthly drop.

The department’s Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight, registered 121.5, 2.6% below the all-time high level of 124.7 in July 2016. These two months of decreases followed four consecutive monthly gains and puts the measure at its lowest level since March.

Ad Loading...

The August index was revised down slightly to 122.2 from 122.3 in last month’s release while the July reading was revised up slightly to 124.7 from 124.5. When September is compared to the same time a year earlier the reading is down 0.6%

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index.

The September Freight TSI fell due to declines in trucking, pipeline and rail intermodal, while air freight, water, and rail carloads rose, according to the department, which added this took place as the economy was relatively stable.

Ad Loading...

The 0.7% third quarter decrease matched slow growth in industrial production, which remained unchanged in the third quarter, while gross domestic product growth jumped up to 2.9% in the third quarter, according to the department. GDP growth in the second and third quarters outpaced the 1.5% growth of TSI over those two quarters, after two earlier quarters when GDP grew less than 1% and TSI declined.

Also, the third quarter decrease of 0.7% followed an increase of 2.3% in the previous quarter, for a net increase of 1.5% over the six months. Since the beginning of 2015 the Freight TSI has declined in five out of seven quarters.

The index remains high compared to earlier years, rising 28.2% since the low of 94.7 in April 2009. Freight shipments are up 9.1% in the five years from the post-recession level of September 2011 and are up 7.6% in the 10 years from September 2006.


More Fleet Management

A woman holding a tablet with a screen showing rectangles of various colors
SponsoredSeptember 16, 2026

Color Match Smarter: Tools That Restore & Perform

For fleet managers and collision repair professionals keeping heavy-duty trucks on the road, getting the color right the first time isn't just about appearance — it's about efficiency, turnaround time, and bottom-line results. Discover how today's digital color tools are transforming the repair process from guesswork to precision.

Read More →
Mobile tablet showing Motus screen against highway background with Motus logo
Fleet Managementby StaffSeptember 15, 2026

FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition

Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.

Read More →
Geotab Whitepaper Cargo Theft Cover
SponsoredSeptember 14, 2026

2026 Blueprint for Countering Smarter Supply Chain Theft

Cargo theft is no longer just the cost of doing business. It's a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise exploiting vulnerabilities across your fleet, drivers, and supply chain.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A monitor with a bar graph with a person sitting next to it wearing a headset.
SponsoredSeptember 1, 2026

How Telematics Improves Visibility, Control, and Performance in Refrigerated Fleets

Explore how telematics help refrigerated fleets improve visibility, uptime, efficiency, compliance, and cargo protection across connected cold chain operations.

Read More →
Graphic with U.S. and Canadian flags over background illustration of an ink-stamp that says Tariffs.
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeAugust 24, 2026

What the U.S.-Canada Trade War Means for Trucking

Escalating U.S.-Canada tariffs could disrupt cross-border freight, reduce truck volumes, raise costs, and create new uncertainty for carriers on both sides of the border.

Read More →
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseAugust 24, 2026

What Are Trucking’s Top Concerns for 2026?

The American Transportation Research Institute wants to know what's worrying trucking fleet managers, drivers, and other stakeholders in its annual Industry Issues survey.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Four men in suits on the National Mall with giant video screen showing capitol building in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 24, 2026

American Trucking Associations Looks for a New Leader

ATA President and CEO Chris Spear abruptly left his job at the association on August 21, at a pivotal time for the trucking industry.

Read More →
The Cyber Stop column header with photo of a smiling driver in truck with a laptop and a wi-fi icon
Fleet ManagementAugust 21, 2026

Public Wi-Fi Cybersecurity Risks: How Truck Drivers and Fleets Can Protect Their Data

Public Wi-Fi can expose truck drivers and fleets to credential theft, malware, and other cyber threats. Here’s how to reduce the risk on the road.

Read More →
Woman in white blazer superimposed on background showing a row of Fraley & Schilling truck, plus the HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 logo
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 19, 2026

For Nicky Cupp, Fleet Innovation Starts With Frustration

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Nicky Cupp turns everyday pain points at Fraley & Schilling into opportunities for better technology and smarter processes.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Headshot of Adam Buttgenbach with a Pepsi-branded Tesla Semi in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 18, 2026

Adam Buttgenbach’s Approach to Electric Trucks: Start With Where They Fit

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Adam Buttgenbach helped PepsiCo build one of North America’s largest EV fleets by focusing on where electric trucks make operational sense.

Read More →