Transportation Services Index nudged up in November

The Transportation Services Index (TSI) in November increased 0.9 percent from October's level to 116.9, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The index rose 4.4 percent on a year-over-year basis.

November's Freight TSI of 116.5 increased 1.2 percent from October's mark. The measure of output from for-hire rail, trucking, inland waterway, pipeline and air freight firms also climbed 5.2 percent compared with November 2012.

After a small dip in October, freight transportation returned to the growth that characterized much of 2013's second half, BTS officials said in a press release.

"The November rise was a result of increases in all modes except pipeline," they said. "Growth in tonnage-intensive industries such as heavy construction and oil and gas fracking produced an increase in truck tonnage, [and] both trucking and rail benefitted from growing auto production."

The Passenger TSI in November matched October's mark at 117.7. On a year-over-year basis, the measure of output from for-hire air, local transit and intercity rail providers rose 2.4 percent.