Improving freight transportation

Public Roads, Jan-Feb, 2006 by Joanne Sedor

Industry leaders help define the role of a State-level coordinator.

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Freight haulers face increasing challenges moving goods across the Nation's highways. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the volume of freight traffic on the U.S. road system will increase 70 percent by 2020. Though this increase represents a positive trend and reflects a healthy national economy, it does present significant challenges for the freight transportation industry and State departments of transportation (DOTs) across the country.

No one has to peer into a crystal ball to realize that roadblocks lie ahead if the transportation system's highway capacity continues to lag behind the growth in freight movement. Data from FHWA's Highway Statistics series indicate that truck vehicle-miles logged on U.S. highways nearly doubled between 1980 and 2003, while roadway lane-miles increased by only 5 percent. As demand for freight service increases, so does concern about how an even greater number of trucks on the road will affect congestion, safety, and the environment.

Fortunately, some State DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) already are taking steps to manage freight growth by seeking to understand the dynamics of freight movement in their jurisdictions. And their efforts are paving the way for solutions to ease short- and long-term problems.

As heavy volumes continue to strain roadways around the country, freight movement issues must be a top priority in planning and operations decisionmaking. Moving forward, the challenge will be to bring all levels of Government, the driving public, and private organizations into the fold to help solve problems and keep shippers and carriers moving goods safely and efficiently. Recognizing the important role that Federal, State, local, and industry stakeholders will play in balancing freight and passenger transportation needs, the FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations (HOFM) conducted extensive outreach, including a survey, to representatives from these groups between 2000 and 2002. The goal was to gain their insights on freight transportation issues and determine how best to prioritize and fund freight-related transportation projects.

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Responses by participants to the survey emphasized the need for better coordination and cooperation between the public and private sectors. Innovative mechanisms for financing projects, better research data, and improved data analysis also ranked highly in participants' minds. In the realm of human resources, the respondents highlighted a need for transportation professionals to have greater access to knowledge of data sources and freight trends and issues. They also cited a need for new skills, such as freight forecasting techniques using different data sources and analytical tools and creating Freight Advisory Committees to develop cooperation between the public and private sector on freight issues. Finally, one key finding proved almost universal among respondents: State DOT and MPO officials clearly voiced a common belief that one or several specially designated people need to serve as focal points for freight interests at the State level.

The Surveys Say ...

Based on survey results from State DOT and FHWA division office personnel, the following steps are critical in addressing the rapidly increasing volume of freight traffic on the Nation's roadways and establishing State-level freight coordinator positions to develop and implement necessary solutions:

* Setting transportation priorities, promoting the issues, educating members of the public and private sectors, and improving the knowledge of freight professionals

* Connecting with the private sector through transportation councils or other institutional means, such as advisory boards

* Connecting jurisdictions to improve communications and planning between States

* Integrating transportation efforts between institutions

* Integrating transportation modes

* Improving data analysis and planning

* Creating a better understanding of funding and financing issues

* Improving understanding of the planning process

* Thinking globally and locally to solve transportation problems

On the Road to Coordination

Research and prior surveys have shown that the potential to advance freight-related transportation projects is significantly improved if public- and private-sector collaboration is fostered and projects are coordinated by an office or a person dedicated to this activity at the State level. Collaboration is key to identifying and implementing complex regional solutions to freight transportation problems. A coordinator also can advance freight capacity-building programs for the State.

Identifying the Need

States must understand their freight transportation issues before they can address them. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) is in the early stages of this process, according to Cecil Selness, director of Mn/DOT's Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations.