Freight Transportation Services Index Rises 1.5% in February 2026, Marking Second Straight Monthly Gain

The U.S. freight transportation sector showed continued momentum in February 2026, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) increased 1.5% from January, marking the second consecutive month of growth. Year-over-year, the index rose 1.9% from February 2025.

The Freight TSI, which measures the volume of freight carried by for-hire transportation providers, reached 139.8 in February.

Key February 2026 Highlights

• Freight TSI: +1.5% month-over-month, +1.9% year-over-year

• Passenger TSI: +0.3% month-over-month, +1.0% year-over-year

• Combined Freight & Passenger TSI: +1.1% month-over-month, +1.6% year-over-year

The increase in the Freight TSI was driven by gains in air freight, rail carloads, rail intermodal, pipeline, and trucking, while water volumes declined.

The Passenger TSI also rose modestly, supported by increases in air passenger, rail passenger, and transit volumes. Despite the gain, the Passenger TSI remains 7.8% below its all-time high set in January 2020.

Context from Other Economic Indicators

The February data shows transportation continuing to outperform several other key indicators:

• Federal Reserve Industrial Production Index: +0.2%

• ISM Manufacturing PMI: 52.4% (still in expansion, but slightly softer)

• Personal Income: -0.4%

• Housing Starts and Retail Sales: Data not yet available for February

This marks the second straight month of positive movement in freight volumes, suggesting improving demand for transportation services even as some broader economic signals remain mixed.

What This Means for U.S. Shippers

A rising Freight TSI is generally a positive signal for shippers and logistics providers. It indicates:

• Strengthening freight demand across multiple modes

• Improving utilization of trucking, rail, and air capacity

• Potential for tighter capacity and firmer rates in the coming months

However, the sharp contrast between growing freight volumes and contracting employment in manufacturing (as noted in recent ISM reports) suggests companies are moving more goods with leaner workforces — placing even greater importance on efficient transportation networks.

At Gain Consulting LLC, we help manufacturers and distributors turn these transportation trends into competitive advantages through optimized LTL, truckload, small package, and international shipping strategies.

With freight volumes showing consistent growth, now is an excellent time to:

• Review carrier contracts and rate structures

• Identify opportunities to shift modes or lanes for better efficiency

• Leverage technology to improve visibility and automation across your supply chain

If your organization is seeing increased shipping demand but rising costs, our team of approximately 50 professionals can help you reduce expenses while maintaining — or improving — service levels.

Contact Gain Consulting LLC today for a no-obligation transportation and supply chain assessment. Let us help you save time, effort, and cost through smarter integration and automation.

Follow us on X @gainconsulting_ for monthly updates on freight indices, manufacturing trends, and practical logistics insights.

The full February 2026 TSI report and historical data are available on the BTS website and the FRED database.