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The Transportation Services Index (TSI) clocked in at 114.4 in December, up 2.9 percent from November’s level and 5.3 percent from December 2010’s mark. The monthly index climbed to its highest point in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

The December Freight TSI of 113.7 rose 3.9 percent from November’s level, the largest month-over-month rise in 17 years, which elevated freight shipments to an all-time high, BTS officials said in a prepared statement. The index also surpassed the previous December record of 111.4 set in 2005. On a year-over-year basis, the index — which measures the output of for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight firms — climbed 6.4 percent, the highest full-year growth rate since 2002, BTS officials said.

Meanwhile, the Passenger TSI in December rose 0.6 percent from November’s level to 116.3. The index increased 2.6 percent on a year-over-year basis.

In the fourth quarter, the TSI rose 2.6 percent, Freight TSI climbed 3.7 percent — the index’s second consecutive quarterly increase and ninth gain out of the past 10 quarters — and Passenger TSI dipped 0.2 percent.

For more BTS data on the three indices, follow this link.