WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.8 percent in November to reach an all-time high of 123.2.

It is the fifth month in a row that the index, compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), has risen.

The index is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry. The November 2014 index level was 30.2 percent above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession.

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the growth in November was led by trucking, air freight, pipelines and waterborne.

“During the month, several other indicators of related parts of the economy that often impact transportation increased,” BTS reports. “Employment and retail sales both increased, as did manufacturing output and total industrial production.  Inventories increased to reach an historic high.”