For-Hire Freight Shipments Hit New Record High
A measure of U.S. for-hire freight movements set another record high in February, according to new Transportation Department figures released Wednesday, following no change the month before.

Graphic: U.S. DOT

A measure of U.S. for-hire freight movements set another record high in February, according to new Transportation Department figures released Wednesday, following no change the month before.
The 1.5% increase in the Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), places the gauge at a level of 126.4 for the month, 33.5% above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession. The latest all time high exceeds the previous one hit in July 2016, by 1%.
The December and January indexes were both revised to 124.5 from 123.2 in last month’s release. When February is compared to the same time a year ago the latest increase totals 4%.
The Freight TSI 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. 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.
The February increase in the Freight TSI was broad based, with growth in all freight transportation modes except pipeline. The increase took place against a background of upward signals in other economic indicators.
Employment, housing starts and personal income all grew in February. Also, the Institute for Supply Management’s Purchasing Managers’ Index, which measures manufacturing output, showed positive and accelerating growth. And while The Federal Reserve’s Industrial Production index was unchanged, growth in manufacturing and mining offset by decline in utility output.
The February TSI increase represented the fifth month in a row when the measure moved higher or was stable, for an overall increase of 4.5%, following two months of declines.
For the year to date, for-hire freight shipments measured by the index were up 1.5% in February compared to the end of 2016.
According to the department, research has shown a clear relationship between economic cycles and the Freight TSI.
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 →
