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The Transportation Services Index (TSI) in September fell 0.1 percent from August's level, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The index, which totaled 109.9, also decreased 0.3 percent compared with September 2006's level.

However, the TSI remained flat in the third quarter compared with the second-quarter index, and through 2007's first nine months, rose 0.1 percent year over year. The TSI is a measure of month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by for-hire transportation industries.

The Freight TSI in September totaled 108.1, a 0.7 percent decrease compared with August's level — the index's largest decline since November 2006 and sixth month-over-month drop this year. The Freight TSI fell to its lowest mark since January 2004 and declined 1.6 percent compared with September 2006's level, BTS said.

The index is a measure of the month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by for-hire freight transportation industries, including rail, trucking, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight. The Freight TSI also decreased 0.7 percent in the third quarter and 0.7 percent through nine months compared with totals from the same 2006 periods.

In September, the Passenger TSI rose 1.8 percent from August's level to 117.2 — the third-straight monthly gain. The index, which measures month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by for-hire passenger transportation industries, including intercity rail, local transit and air, also increased 3.9 percent compared with September 2006's level.

The Passenger TSI rose 2.1 percent in the third quarter and 2.6 percent through nine months compared with indexes from the same 2006 periods. The Passenger TSI has risen 24.8 percent the past five years and 30.3 percent the past decade.