Freight, passenger transportation indices posted gains in February

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) in February rose 1.5% from January’s level, climbing for the second consecutive month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).  

On a year-over-year basis, the index increased 1.9%. The Freight TSI measures the amount of freight transported by the for-hire transportation industry, including cargo moved by rail, trucks, inland waterways, pipelines and air carriers. 

“The Freight TSI increased in February due to increases in air freight, rail carloads, rail intermodal, pipeline and trucking, while water volumes decreased,” BTS officials said in a press release. 

Meanwhile, the Passenger TSI in February inched up 0.3% from January’s level and ratcheted up 1% from February 2025’s figure. The Passenger TSI measures passenger transportation volumes from local transit, intercity rail and air transportation carriers.  

“The February increase in the Passenger TSI brought it to a new high for 2026, but 7.8% below the all-time high reached in January 2020,” BTS officials said. 

The combined Freight and Passenger TSI in February rose 1.1% on a month-over-month basis and 1.6% on a year-over-year basis.