Transportation Services Index scored gain in February

The Transportation Services Index (TSI) in February increased 0.8 percent from January's level to 116.3, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). On a year-over-year basis, the index rose 2.1 percent.

The Freight TSI — which measures the output of rail, trucking, inland waterway, pipeline and air freight firms — registered a gain after two straight monthly declines. The index reached 115.2, up 1.2 percent from January's level and 2.1 percent from February 2013's mark.

"The February rebound in the freight index was dominated by trucking and rail intermodal, as the other freight modes declined or were stable," BTS officials said in a press release. "The unusually severe weather that hampered freight shipments in January continued in February, but the demand for goods to ship increased despite the weather."

The Passenger TSI in February ratcheted up 0.1 percent from January's level to 118.6. The measure of month-to-month changes in travel provided by air, local transit and intercity rail providers also rose 2 percent from February 2013's mark.