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The Transportation Services Index (TSI) ended 2010 on a high note, increasing 1 percent in December to 103.2 compared with November’s level, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The index also rose 1.3 percent on a year-over-year basis.

The Freight TSI — which measures the output of for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipeline and air-freight shipments according to ton-miles — increased 1.5 percent in December to 100.0 compared with November’s index. Although the Freight Index also rose 0.4 percent vs. December 2009’s level, it remained below every other December index since 2001, when it stood at 97.4, according to BTS.

Meanwhile, the December Passenger TSI — which measures changes in travel conducted in the for-hire passenger transportation sector, including intercity rail, local transit and air — tumbled 0.4 percent vs. November’s level to 114.4. But on a year-over-year basis, the index climbed 4.4 percent.

In the fourth quarter, the TSI increased 1.4 percent, Freight TSI rose 1.3 percent and Passenger TSI climbed 1.6 percent. The TSI and Freight TSI registered gains for the fifth time in the past six quarters, BTS said. Preliminary data also shows that in 2010, the TSI increased 1.3 percent, Freight TSI inched up 0.4 percent and Passenger TSI rose 4.1 percent compared with 2009 levels.

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