Transportation Services Index made strides in March

The Transportation Services Index (TSI) in March rose 1.2 percent from February's level to 117.1, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). On a year-over-year basis, the index climbed 2.5 percent.

The Freight TSI increased 1.6 percent from February's level to 116.7. The measure of month-to-month changes in the output of for-hire rail, trucking, inland waterway, pipeline and air freight firms also rose 3 percent compared with the March 2013 index, and was only 0.8 percent off the record Freight TSI set in November 2013.

"The March increase in the freight index reflected growth in all modes except pipeline. Trucking and rail intermodal grew most rapidly," BTS officials said in a press release. "March was the second month in a row that trucking and rail intermodal were the fastest growing modes."

The Passenger TSI in March ratcheted up 0.3 percent from February's level to 117.7 and increased 1.2 percent from March 2013's mark. The index measures month-to-month changes in the output of air, local transit and intercity rail service providers.

In the first quarter, the TSI dipped 0.3 percent, Freight TSI slipped 0.2 percent and Passenger TSI declined 0.5 percent compared with the same 2013 period.