The U.S. Department of Transportation said that its Freight Transportation Services Index hit a record 129.2 in October, breaking the previous record of 129 set last August.
DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said the freight TSI inched up 0.6 from September’s level and climbed 5.3 percent from October 2016’s mark.
The index measures month-to-month changes in shipments moved by rail, truck, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.
“Significant increases in trucking, rail carloads, rail intermodal and water led the October increase . . . while air freight declined and pipeline was stable,” BTS officials said in a news release.
October marked the index’s third record level during a four-month period and fourth record in six months.
The bureau said that from August to November the Freight TSI achieved its four highest levels ever attained.
The passenger TSI in October fell 4.2 percent from September’s level to 122.3. On a year-over-year basis, the index dropped 1.2 percent.
The passenger TSI measures month-to-month changes in travel via intercity rail, air and local transit modes.
The combined freight and passenger TSI of 127.1 in October dipped 0.9 percent from September’s level but rose 3.2 percent from October 2016’s mark.