Transportation Services Index (TSI)

Detailed information for August 2026

The Transportation Services Index (TSI), provides monthly estimates of volume changes for domestic for-hire freight and passenger transportation.

Data release - October 19, 2026

• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

The Transportation Services Index (TSI) provides monthly estimates of volume changes in for-hire freight and passenger transportation, as specified under NAICS 48. For-hire transportation consists of freight or passenger transport services provided by a firm to external customers for a fee. The TSI does not include taxi services, paid ride services in personal motor vehicles, intercity bus services, in-house transportation (vehicles owned and operated by private firms for their own use), or non-commercial passenger travel. Additionally, the index excludes international or coastal waterborne movements, private trucking, courier services, and the Postal Service.

Data are available at the Canada level only.

Reference period: Month

Collection period: The collection process occurs on a monthly basis. The data is released quarterly and includes information through the first two months of the preceding quarter.

Subjects

• Transportation
• Transportation by air
• Transportation by rail
• Transportation by road

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population for the TSI consists of all industries in Canada that use Canadian domestic for-hire transportation. This includes any entity that contracts third-party carriers for the movement of goods within Canada, regardless of shipment size, frequency, or mode.

Instrument design

Not applicable

Sampling

Not applicable

Data sources

Data are collected from other Statistics Canada surveys and/or other sources.

Error detection

Error detection is conducted at the time of data collection and also during post collection processing, using a set of systematized error detection procedures to identify outliers and possible reporting anomalies. Records that fail these edits are reviewed for editing and correction when necessary.

Time and effort are devoted to keeping the specifications constant such that only the pure changes in price are tracked. Some information is also collected in order to ensure, as much as possible, that the collected data correspond to the same specifications over time.

Imputation

Missing data are generally estimated by a systematized imputation process. In any given period, price data may not be available for estimation. In such cases, missing data are imputed using the average price movement of remaining units within the same stratum (overall mean or targeted mean imputation method).

Estimation

Volumes
The TSI is based on the total quantity of goods transported by specific modes of transportation.

Weights
Using Supply Use Tables, industry-level weights are developed and aggregated to produce the total TSI. The detailed data contained in the SUT improve index accuracy by providing a comprehensive view of transportation industry output and the contribution of individual sectors to overall economic activity.

Index
The TSI is a Laspeyres-type volume index that measures only domestic for-hire freight transportation activities classified under NAICS 48. The index is constructed by aggregating elementary volume indexes across the five transportation modes using a fixed-base weighted arithmetic average, with weights derived from the Supply Use Tables.

Quality evaluation

An in-depth assessment of quality is conducted prior to the dissemination of estimates. This assessment is based on two key elements of quality (accuracy and coherence), as defined in Statistics Canada's guidelines for the validation of statistical outputs.

The survey's data collection strategy is designed to ensure that targeted response rates are met every cycle. Analysts pay close attention to this metric and take the appropriate measures to ensure that the survey's coverage is thorough. Particular attention is also given to ensuring that sampled products or services are representative of actual transactions taking place in the market. These two activities, fundamental to the overall quality of the estimates, are done consistently.

Analysts also undertake additional validation activities every cycle to ensure the coherence of survey estimates. These activities include the analysis of price changes period-over-period and the analysis of trends at the business/company, industry, subsector and sector levels, the certification of key contributors to price change as well as the confrontation of estimates against other related data sources. Contextual analysis of survey results is also performed in light of prevailing economic conditions.

Engagements with relevant stakeholders are also undertaken periodically. Forums involving other Statistics Canada analysts, industry stakeholders and partners at other national and international statistical agencies provide valuable insight into the development and research agenda of the program.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various transformations are applied to collected price data in the calculation of price indexes, such that it is not possible to identify the raw price data obtained from any survey participant. Confidentiality rules are also applied to price indexes that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

With each monthly estimation, data for the previous 6 months may have been revised and an Annual revision with the estimation of June reference period. Total TSI is seasonally adjusted using X-13 Armia-Seats.

Data accuracy

The TSI uses data derived from other Statistics Canada surveys and other sources based on a methodology designed to control for errors and reduce their effect on estimates. Processing procedures for editing and imputation are in place to ensure the quality of data. Consequently, the aggregate indexes at all levels are considered to be statistically reliable.

Response rates
Not applicable. The estimates are derived from data published through existing Statistics Canada statistical programs and administrative sources rather than from a dedicated survey collection. As no respondents are contacted and no questionnaire is administered for this program, an overall response rate cannot be calculated.