DOT freight measure slips in March

The Freight TSI fell 3.8 percent in the first quarter , the first quarterly decline after two consecutive increases. The index rose in nine of the last 11 quarters.

The Trucker News Services

5/10/2012

WASHINGTON — The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry fell 0.8 percent in March from February, declining after a one-month increase, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics Freight Transportation Services Index.

The level of freight shipments measured by the Freight TSI, 109.4, declined from December 2011’s mark of 113.7 which was the all-time high since 1990 when BTS’ TSI records began.

The March level was 16 percent above the April 2009 low during the recession, BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported.

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The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments by mode of transportation in ton-miles, which are then 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.

Trend: Freight shipments in March were at the fourth highest level since the early recession month of July 2008 despite the 3.8 percent decline from December 2011. Freight shipments have increased in 23 of the last 35 months since the recession low.

Long-term trend: Freight shipments are down 1.2 percent in the five years from pre-recession of March 2007 and up 10.9 percent in the 10 years from March 2002 despite declines in recent years.

Same month of previous year: March freight shipments rose 0.8 percent from March 2011 and  14.1 percent from March 2009, during the recession, but remain below the level of March 2007 (110.8).

1st Quarter Changes: The Freight TSI fell 3.8 percent in the first quarter , the first quarterly decline after two consecutive increases. The index rose in nine of the last 11 quarters.

The TSI is a seasonally adjusted index that measures changes from the monthly average of the base year of 2000. It includes historic data from 1990 to the present. Release of the April index is scheduled for June 13.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at kevinj@thetrucker.com.

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