The USDOT’s Intermodal Transportation and Inventory Cost (ITIC) Model is a PC-based model for performing policy analysis of issues concerning freight movement, such as modal diversion and the assessment of economic benefits associated with changes in transportation strategy or infrastructure.  The ITIC-IM model is a specialized version of ITIC that provides estimates of diversion of highway freight traffic to rail intermodal service.

ITIC-IM focuses on the issues confronting transportation policy makers planning for the projected doubling of truck freight by the year 2020.  ITIC-IM provides a tool to assess realistic possibilities for modal shift, by allowing the user to measure the effect on shipper choice of given changes in logistics—for example, relative price or reliability of rail intermodal service.  The model replicates the decision-making tradeoffs made by a logistics manager in selecting the mode and shipment size that minimizes total logistics cost to resupply the inventory of a particular product.  The implications of the transportation options on total logistics cost are assessed in both modal choice and in dollars and cents terms.  Results from the model can provide input to examine other important mode choice impacts including infrastructure investment, safety, energy, environment, and traffic operations.

ITIC-IM code employs the same logic and format found in the parent ITIC model used for the USDOT’s Comprehensive Truck Size Weight (CTS&W) Study, submitted to Congress in 2000.  One advantage to this version is a substantially enhanced user interface; the addition of a sheet called “Running Macros” within the model provides the user with an ease of operation by simply clicking buttons to perform base case and policy scenarios.   Additionally, the model provides summary statistics, which allow side-by-side comparison of the Base as well as the Policy Case for both truck and rail intermodal.  Aside from these features built into the model’s macros, the logic embedded in the model is fundamentally unchanged, but some modifications have been made in the input/output records to simplify the operation. 

The model, available on a compact disk, must be used in conjunction with an appropriate set of input data of typical freight movements prepared by the user in the format explained in the user’s manual.  Any PC that runs Microsoft Excel 2000 is able to run the model.  If the user chooses to copy all of the files from the CD-ROM, then a minimum of 701 megabytes of disk space is required.

To obtain a copy of the CD-ROM containing the documentation, the model, and other data sets contact Scott Greene at 202-493-6408 or through e-mail at scott.greene@dot.gov .

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