Freight Professional Development (FPD) Program Training and Technical Assistance

The Federal Highway Administration regularly works with its State and metropolitan planning customers to identify products needed to help them do their jobs better and to assess the effectiveness of existing products. Input from our customers and other stakeholders is reflected in this list of FPD courses, workshops, seminars, and technical assistance opportunities. States may use their Federal program funds to pay for 100 percent of training, education, and workforce development activities. Funds are available through existing core program sources: the Surface Transportation Program, National Highway System, Interstate Maintenance, Bridge, and Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality.

Training (Now Available)

Integrating Freight in the Transportation Planning Process (National Highway Institute [NHI] Course No.: 130991
Freight transportation issues are complex and involve many stakeholders who have different perspectives on the freight transportation system. The challenge faced by many public-sector transportation planners is how to best incorporate these perspectives and other considerations into the transportation planning process. This course provides information about freight trends, identifies key stakeholders, and discusses issues that hinder freight from being fully incorporated into the transportation planning process.
Course Scheduling Contact: NHI Training Team, 703-235-0534, nhitraining@dot.gov

Uses of Multimodal Freight Forecasting in Transportation Planning (NHI Course No.: 139002)
Freight forecasting requires an understanding of many factors, including economic trends, the distribution of traffic, and the operational characteristics of freight carriers. This course discusses the key factors that influence economic growth and the distribution of traffic, describes and demonstrates forecasting techniques, and reviews notable practices.
Course Scheduling Contact: NHI Training Team, 703-235-0534, nhitraining@dot.gov

Engaging the Private Sector in Freight Planning
Establishing and sustaining relationships with key private sector stakeholders are critical to the success of freight planning efforts. This workshop reviews strategies and techniques to initiate private-public sector cooperation, identifies key private sector stakeholders, and suggests ways to improve communication. Successful approaches employed at several State departments of transportation (DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are also discussed.
For more information, contact: Jocelyn.Jones@dot.gov

Freight Security Awareness
The challenge of balancing freight transportation security against freight transportation efficiency has attracted significant attention and resources from local, state, and Federal agencies involved in ensuring the security of the Nation's freight shipments. To increase awareness of freight security issues, this training provides an overview of security initiatives and focuses on how transportation agencies can incorporate security-related issues and programs within their traditional, day-to-day transportation planning activities. The computer-based Freight Security Awareness training is available at www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/FPD/training.asp.
For more information, contact: Crystal.Jones@dot.gov

Technical Assistance (Now Available)

Freight Planning Technical Assistance
The FHWA Resource Center offers freight planning technical assistance to States and MPOs on a range of topics, including creating freight advisory committees, initiating a freight study, forecasting freight traffic, and identifying key data sources.
For more information, contact: Lisa.Randall@dot.gov

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Program
The Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Program facilitates information sharing between public sector freight transportation professionals and provides technical assistance on an as-needed basis. By providing an opportunity for public sector freight professionals to learn from their peers, the Freight P2P Program identifies and expands state and regional noteworthy practices in the freight transportation field and builds relationships, understanding, and cooperation among key stakeholders.
For more information, contact: Carol.Keenan@dot.gov

Upcoming Courses/Seminars and Technical Assistance Opportunities

Advanced Freight Planning (NHI Course No.: 139003)
This course expands on freight topics covered in the Integrating Freight in Transportation Planning course and other FHWA-developed freight planning courses. Specifically, the course provides the practical tools and techniques needed to further integrate freight in the planning process and engage the private sector in that process. Noteworthy practices are highlighted as well. Prerequisite—Participants must take NHI course 139001—Integrating Freight in the Transportation Planning—prior to attending this course.
For more information, contact: Carol.Keenan@dot.gov

Freight Data Made Simple
This workshop identifies major public and private freight data sources; reviews data source and reliability issues; and highlights examples of national, state, and local freight data applications. This workshop is tailored to meet customer needs.
For more information, contact: Lisa.Randall@dot.gov

Freight Planning and Environmental Considerations (NHI Course No.: 139005)
This course helps planners and engineers integrate environmental considerations in public sector freight planning and project development. The course emphasizes recent case studies from all modes to demonstrate the range of best practices available to small, medium, and large MPOs and urban and rural DOTs. It also includes exercises on the use of analytical techniques and tools. Prerequisite—Participants must have a working knowledge of either transportation planning and/or environmental planning.
For more information, contact: Carol.Keenan@dot.gov

Multimodal Freight Financing Seminar
This seminar provides basic information about available Federal public funding sources, eligibility criteria, and innovative financing options that can be used for multimodal freight projects. Noteworthy practices are highlighted to illustrate the range of freight financing options.
For more information, contact: Carol.Keenan@dot.gov

Principles of Effective Commercial Motor Vehicle Size and Weight Enforcement (NHI Course No.: 139004)
This course provides responsible personnel with the needed information and tools to effectively enforce size and weight regulations. Topics covered include Federal rules and regulations governing size and weight, writing and evaluating State enforcement plans and certifications, funding issues, and new and innovative technologies.
For more information, contact: Carol.Keenan@dot.gov

FHWA-HOP-07-008
November 2006