The AASHTO Freight Transportation Network, is an interrelated group of websites for AASHTO's five freight transportation mode policy committees (Standing Committee on Rail, Standing Committee on Water, Standing Committee on Aviation, Subcommittee on Highway Transport, and Special Committee on Intermodal Transportation and Economic Expansion). These committee web pages act as a tool for State DOT freight transportation staff and private sector transportation industry representatives involved with states.

---

2008 AASHTO Committee Meetings
and Other Transportation Forums

The meetings page will list updates of AASHTO's Freight related committees, Trade Associations, Industry Events, and other Regional related conferences, new information will be posted at it is communicated.

Click here for more information on other Transportation meetings » » »

 

FEATURED MEETING:

NOTE: Click on Picture for Meeting Information

---

 

 

FREIGHT ITEMS

---

| Intermodal Developments | Resource Material | U.S. Department of Transportation | Freight & Multimodal Literature |

| Freight Transportation Leadership Group | Transportation Service Index | Research Links |

---

 

 

INTERMODAL DEVELOPMENTS AASHTO Freight Transportation Bottom Line Report This Spring AASHTO will release the AASHTO Freight Transportation Bottom Line Report. A report on freight demand and logistics will provide the background for three freight mode reports on rail, highway, and water transportation. The AASHTO Freight Transportation Bottom Line Report will be a synthesis of these four reports. Freight Demand and Logistics This report will provide a snapshot of the global freight system describing freight lanes, services, ownership, freight-flow patterns, and volumes, showing how the individual movements make up the com¬plex U.S. and global freight system. Highway Freight Movement The report will summarize the issues and opportunities facing the nation’s highway freight transportation system. It will describe anticipated changes in freight demand and flows caused by changes in demand, sector growth, structural changes in trucking industry, fuel prices, security requirements and diesel emission controls; and investment needs. Rail Freight Movement This report will update the AASHTO Freight-Rail Bottom Line Report (2002), summarizing the issues and opportunities facing the nation’s rail freight transportation system and focusing on the benefits and risks of public investment in private-sector rail systems. It will Describe service performance (travel time, price, reliability); infrastructure capacity (condition, capacity, safety); major bottlenecks; and investment needs. Water Freight Movement This report will summarize the issues and opportunities facing the nation’s water freight trans¬portation system, including its ports and inland waterways. It will develop a snapshot of the water freight system, covering shipping lanes; services; struc¬ture and ownership of the infrastructure, facilities and equipment; overviews of the port, and inland and intercoastal waterway elements of the water freight system; freight flow patterns and volumes of key commodities; and, intermodal coor¬dination with highway and rail freight systems. It will describe anticipated changes in freight demand and flows caused by changes in population, economic growth, trade, policy, and security; and investment requirements of aging lock system; and port and port access. More detailed information can be found on: The 2007 AASHTO Freight Transportation Resources--Handout | Please click on the link below and fill out the contact page so that AASHTO may alert you upon the release of the report(s): 2007 AASHTO Freight Bottom Line Report---Click here For furhter information or to reserve a copy please contact: Juan Flores Freight Program Manager Tel: 202-624-5839 E-mail:jflores@aashto.org Back to Top--->

 

Resource Material

 

AASHTO Freight—Why Freight Matters

As part of its continuing push to provide better and faster information delivery to its members and the transportation community at large, AASHTO today posted its first video on YouTube, a widely-visited video sharing service. The video "Transportation: A New Vision for the 21st Century" was shown recently at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, WI.

The 8-minute video outlines AASHTO's vision for reducing congestion, keeping America globally competitive and meeting mobility needs over the next 50 years.
For more informaton, please visit the following sites: 
AASHTO Freight—Why Freight Matters (YouTube Video)

 

GAO--Intermodal Transportation:
DOT Could Take Further Actions to Address Intermodal Barriers
(June 2007)

Three key barriers inhibit intermodal transportation, according to federal, state, and local officials and published studies: limited federal funding targeted to such projects, in part due to statutory requirements; limited collaboration among the many entities and jurisdictions involved; and limited ability to evaluate the benefits of such projects.

To read this report please click below: 
Intermodal Transportation

 

Vision for the future
U.S. Intercity passenger rail network through 2050
Prepared by the Passenger Rail Working Group
December 6, 2007

In working toward its goal, the Commission is considering all modes of surface transportation, including intercity passenger rail. The Commissioners have found that less data is available for intercity passenger rail than for other surface transportation modes. Therefore, in the absence of staff resources and robust information on intercity passenger rail needs, Commissioner Frank Busalacchi established the Passenger Rail Working Group (PRWG).

To read this report please click below: 
Intercity Passenger Rail Network

 

SmartRivers 2006
International Conference Report
"Inland Waterways and the Global Suppy Chain"

This report is the result of the SmartRivers 2006, International Conference held on November 7, 2006 in Brussels, Belgium. The conference was a continuation of SmartRivers 21, a cooperative effort through a series of international conferences to share information, ideas and technologies between inland waterway transportation officials, industry leaders and operators in the United States and Europe. It is an international coalition intent on realizing “Strategic Maritime Asset Research and Transformation for 21st Century River Systems”.

To read this report please click below: 
Arno Hart, RNO Group

For more information on this topic, please visit:  
SmartRivers Report and Other

 

Needs of U.S. Transportation System Explored In AASHTO Report to National Commission

Congress created the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission to examine “future surface transportation system needs, expected demographic and economic changes that will shape traffic demand, the future of the Interstate System, and the potential for expansion, upgrades, and other changes to the surface transportation system to meet the nation’s needs.”

The following studies area a series of reports that AASHTO plans to provide to assist the Commission, contains a comprehensive assessment of transportation needs today and in the future as well as the demographic and economic changes that will shape that future.

Surface Transportation Policy Recommendations:
Read this report: Commission Report: BLUE (PDF)

A New Vision for the 21st Century:
Read this report: Commission Report: PURPLE (PDF)

Future Needs of the U.S. Surface Transportation System:
Read this report: Commission Report: MAROON (PDF)

America's Freight Challenge:
Read this report: Commission Report: ORANGE (PDF)

Revenue Sources to Fund Transportation Needs:
Read this report: Commission Report: GREEN (PDF)

State DOT Performance Management Programs: Select Examples
Read this report: Commission Report: GRAY (PDF)

Accelerating Project Delivery:
Read this report: Commission Report: DARK BLUE (PDF)

The American Transportation Network of Tomorrow:
Read this report: Commission Brochure (PDF)

 

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies

The Southeastern Transportation Alliance was formed in 1996 for the purpose of undertaking the Latin America Trade and Transportation Study (LATTS). Members of the Alliance included Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and the FHWA.

To read more, please visit: 
ITTS/LSTTS/LATTS II

 

 

How Freight Moves: Estimating Mileage and Routes Using an Innovative GIS Tool

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has developed an innovative software tool, called GeoMiler, that is helping researchers better estimate freight travel. GeoMiler is being used to compute mileages along likely routes for the nearly 6 million freight shipments expected to be reported in the 2007 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS), the nation’s largest survey of freight movements.

To read more, please visit: 
How Freight Moves

 

For more on "Resource Material" click here »»»

 

 

U.S. Department of Transportation Freight Tools,Programs,and Initiatives The U.S. freight system faces significant capacity constraints at key freight gateways, and the Department of Transportation doesn't have the tools--or the authority--to remedy all of the problems on its own. Effective policy solutions will require coordinated and collaborative action by both public and private parties. That coordination and collaboration starts with focused communication about a framework for action. A Draft Framework for National Freight Policy: Jeffrey N. Shane Ex-Under Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation Seven Objective Freight Framework NATIONAL FREIGHT POLICY--Objectives, strategies, and tactics DRAFT: April 10, 2006 Vision statement & Overarching Themes More Detailed Objectives Freight Analysis Framework: A database and analytical tool that will help improve planning, operations and decision-making to better manage freight movement across the country. Additional information on the Freight Analysis Framework is available at the Office of Freight Management and Operations website, Freight Database U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration Office of Operations-Freight Professional Development Program FPD * Freight Professional Development (FPD) Program: Advancing Freight in the 21st Century The goal of the FPD program is to integrate and mainstream freight infrastructure and operational improvements in the traditional transportation planning, programming, design, and implementation processes at State and MPO levels. Freight Professional Development (DOC) The National Highway Institute (NHI) is a training arm of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). NHI provides leadership and resources for the development and delivery of training and education programsto improve the quality of our Nation's highway system and its intermodal connections. Click here for more information about NHI Training Solutions See a complete listing of all scheduled courses that NHI is offering * View speaking Schedule-- "Talking Freight" Seminar Series Topic: Freight transportation trends and challenges in the 21st century. The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA's) Office of Freight Management and Operations, in partnership with the FHWA's Office of Planning and other public and private organizations, hosts "Talking Freight" Seminar series via the telephone and Internet. Find out more about "Talking Freight":Seminar Series "Talking Freight" (PDF) Full PowerPoint Presentations of all seminars are now available for download and printing purposes: Final Presenations Back to Top--->

 

 

FREIGHT & MULTIMODAL LITERATURE

Commercial Motor Vehicle Size and Weight Enforcement in Europe
July 2007--International Technology Scanning Program

Continued growth in commerce and traffic congestion makes it difficult for industry to move freight economically without using larger and heavier loads. This trend challenges the effective and efficient monitoring of vehicle size and weight compliance. The Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and National Cooperative Highway Research Program sponsored a scanning study to evaluate procedures and technologies for enforcing commercial motor vehicle size and weight laws in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

Read full report: AASHTO/FHAW SCAN: Commercial Motor Vehicle Size and Weight Enforcement in Europe PDF

Visit FHWA International (SCAN) webpage: FHWA Commercial Motor Vehicle Size and Weight Enforcement in Europe

 

 

U.S. Freight Facts and Figures 2006

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Read more on: Freight Figures 2006 PDF

 

 

AASHTO Freight Transportation Leadership Group

AASHTO Freight Brochure 2006

INTERMODAL: Special Committee on Intermodal Transportation and Economic Expansion

WATER: Standing Committee on Water Transportation

RAIL: Standing Committee on Rail Transportation

TRUCKING: Subcommittee on Highway Transport

2006 AASHTO Freight Brochure ----- > Now Available (Click Here)

 

 

Critical Issues in Transportation

America's economy and quality of life depend on a transportation system that functions well. Transportation connects people to jobs, family, medical care, entertainment, education, and the goods needed for everyday life. Networks of trade that deliver breakthroughs in technology, consumer goods that are ever less expensive, and a growing economy—all are possible because of transportation.
Read more on: Transportation Issues (PDF)

 

 

A New Vision of Mobility: Guidance to Foster Collaborative, Multi-modal Decision Making: The Case for Freight (April 2006)

The growing effects on the Nation's transportation system from global trade are elevating the debate among the U.S. and state Departments of Transportation and other experts on how the system will accommodate the demands of expanding trade.
Read more on: Mobility Issues (PDF)

 

Freight Transportation Infrastructure Survey: Causes and Solutions to the Current Capacity Crisis

Freight transportation congestion was probably one of the most written about topics in logistics in 2005. Bottlenecks and West Coast ports, driver shortages limiting truck capacity, and container shortages were all cover stories. Studies have been made trying to measure the extent of the congestion and capacity shortage as well as its financial impact.
Read more on: Capcity Issues (PDF)

 

 

For more on "FREIGHT & MULTIMODAL LITERATURE" click here »»»

 

Back to Top--->

 

 

FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION LEADERSHIP GROUP

 

NOTE: Click on logo for committee web page / Click on chair name for e-mail address / Click on state DOT name for web page

AASHTO Special Committee on Intermodal Issues Chairman David Cole Executive Director Maine Department of Transportation	AASHTO Standing Committee on Rail Transportation Chair, Astrid C. Glynn Commissioner New York State Department of Transportation
AASHTO Standing Committee on Aviation Transportation Chairman John D. Porcari Secretary Maryland Department of Transportation	Freight Transportation Leadership Group Leo Penne Program Director, Intermodal & Inustry Activities
AASHTO Standing Committee on Water Transportation Chairman Larry "Butch" L. Brown Executive Director Mississippi Department of Transportation	AASHTO Subcommittee on Highway Transportation Chairman James Lynch Director Montana Department of Transportation

NOTE: Click on logo for committee web page / Click on chair name for Bio / Click on state DOT name for web page

Back to Top--->

 

 

Transportation Service Index (TSI) The Transportation Services Index (TSI), created by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), measures the movement of freight and passengers. The index, which is seasonally adjusted, combines available data on freight traffic, as well as passenger travel, that have been weighted to yield a consistent monthly measure. Transportation Services Index Back to Top--->

Research Links

National Transportation Library Librarian and Reference Sources

Docket Management System Dockets System

Logistics World Glossary Virtual Library of Logistics

Bureau of Transportation Statistics State Transportation Profiles

Center for Transportation Excellence Policy Research Center

Back to Top--->

For other modes of transportation click on the icons below