Freight Transportation Services Index Rises for Third Straight Month in April 2026

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released its April 2026 Transportation Services Index (TSI) today, showing continued modest growth in freight movement across the for-hire transportation sector.

Key Highlights from the April 2026 TSI

• Freight TSI: Rose 0.3% from March 2026, marking the third consecutive monthly increase. Year-over-year, the index was up 1.4% from April 2025.

• Passenger TSI: Increased 0.2% month-over-month (also the third straight gain) and 2.1% year-over-year.

• Combined Freight + Passenger TSI: Up 0.3% from March and 1.7% from April 2025.

The Freight TSI measures the volume of freight carried by for-hire trucking, rail (including intermodal), inland waterways, pipelines, and air freight. It serves as a key barometer of economic activity in the transportation and logistics industry.

What Drove the April Gains?

According to BTS, the increase in the Freight TSI was supported by growth in:

• Air freight

• Rail carloads

• Trucking

• Water transportation

These gains were partially offset by declines in rail intermodal and pipeline volumes.

On the passenger side, increases in air passenger travel and local transit drove the improvement, while intercity rail passenger volumes remained unchanged. The April Passenger TSI reached a new high for 2026, though it remains 5.6% below the all-time peak recorded in January 2020.

TSI in Context with Other Economic Indicators

The table below places the Freight TSI alongside other major monthly economic indicators (seasonally adjusted):

Economic Indicator	February 2026	March 2026	April 2026	Feb % Chg	Mar % Chg	Apr % Chg
Freight TSI	138.5	139.2	139.6	1.7%	0.5%	0.3%
FRB Industrial Production Index	102.1	101.8	102.5	0.6%	-0.3%	0.7%
FRB Manufacturing	-	-	-	0.4%	0.0%	0.6%
Retail Sales (Retail Trade)	641,038	653,040	N/A	1.0%	1.9%	N/A
ISM Manufacturing Index (50+ = expansion)	52.4	52.7	52.7	-0.2 pts	+0.3 pts	0.0 pts
Housing Starts (thousands)	1,346	1,507	1,465	-2.8%	12.0%	-2.8%

Source: U.S. BTS, Federal Reserve, Census Bureau, ISM

The steady performance of the Freight TSI aligns with a mixed but generally stable broader economy. Manufacturing and industrial production showed slight improvement, while retail sales remained strong in March.

Important Notes from BTS

• Data for pipelines, air freight, and air passenger are estimated for April. Waterborne freight was also estimated due to data availability.

• Revisions were made to prior months due to updated seasonal adjustments. March’s Freight TSI was revised upward to 139.2.

• The next release (May 2026 TSI) is scheduled for July 9, 2026.

What This Means for Shippers, Carriers, and Supply Chain Leaders

The third consecutive monthly increase in the Freight TSI signals resilient demand in freight transportation despite ongoing economic uncertainty. While growth remains modest, the consistent upward trend suggests the sector is avoiding contraction and finding pockets of strength in trucking, air cargo, and certain rail segments.

For businesses, this environment underscores the importance of:

• Agile capacity planning

• Diversified transportation strategies

• Close monitoring of mode-specific trends (especially the divergence between rail carloads and intermodal)

• Data-driven decisions around inventory and network optimization

How Gain Consulting Helps

At Gain Consulting, we help transportation and logistics organizations turn economic indicators like the TSI into actionable strategies. Whether you’re optimizing freight spend, improving carrier partnerships, redesigning your supply chain network, or preparing for the next phase of growth, our team delivers insights grounded in real-world data and industry expertise.

Ready to strengthen your transportation strategy? Contact Gain Consulting today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can support your goals in a shifting freight landscape.

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