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Freight Planning

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Freight Planning

The Freight Planning website has been jointly developed by the FHWA Offices of Planning and Freight Management & Operations. Freight planning is an important component of statewide and metropolitan transportation planning processes. Input from a variety of public and private stakeholders---State DOTs, MPOs, freight modes, general public--must be considered to successfully integrate freight planning into these existing transportation planning processes. It is the goal of the FHWA Office of Planning and Office of Freight Management and Operations to provide you with a variety of resources to enable you to make informed decisions regarding freight planning in your state.

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Featured Topics

  • Quick Response Freight Manual II
    Quick Response Freight Manual II is an update to the first edition developed for FHWA in 1996. Like its predecessor, the new edition provides background information on the freight transportation system and factors affecting freight demand, helps planners locate available data and freight-related forecasts compiled by others, shows how to apply this information in developing forecasts for specific facilities, and provides simple techniques and transferable parameters that can be used to develop freight vehicle trip tables.

  • Talking Freight Net-Conference Seminars Closed Captioning Available
    These monthly FHWA-sponsored net-conference seminars provide a convenient and no-cost way for transportation practitioners to broaden their freight knowledge base and develop new skills to help them do their jobs better. Recorded sessions of previous seminars are also available on the Talking Freight link. An one-time, easily downloadable plug-in is required for first-time users, and is available at time of registration.

  • Freight Planning Peer Exchange LISTSERV
    The FHWA Freight Planning Listserv is a public listserv created for practitioners in the arena of freight planning and those interested in the topic, and is intended to disseminate information on innovative or best-case practices for meeting metropolitan and statewide freight transportation planning needs.

  • Transportation Clubs International
    Transportation Clubs International ("TCI") is a professional association consisting of transportation clubs, companies and individuals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. TCI member clubs consist of recognized experts in transportation, logistics and supply chain management involving freight and people. The purpose of TCI is to create, stimulate and perpetuate discussion of topics relating to local and national transportation issues. Find a "traffic club" in your State, and get involved with the freight sector!

  • Smartway Transport Partnership, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    The SmartWaySM Transport Partnership is a voluntary collaboration between U.S. EPA and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. SmartWay Transport Partners lead the way towards a cleaner, more efficient transportation future by adopting fuel-saving strategies that increase profits and reduce emissions -- a "win-win" opportunity for all.

  • Transportation Planning Excellence Awards
    The open nomination period begins in December of the year that precedes the biennial award year. Freight planning is a separate award category, under which focused considerations are given to planning practices that:

    • Ensures efficient, seamless, and secure freight flow within and across U.S. borders;
    • Effectively considers rail, commercial motor vehicle, waterway, and aviation facilities elements and connections throughout the transportation planning process;
    • Incorporates freight analysis (e.g. size/weight dynamics), inter-modal coordination, technology into transportation planning; or
    • Provides ongoing coordination with public and private freight companies throughout transportation planning.

Training

Contact Information

If you have any questions and/or comments about this website, please e-mail or phone the contacts below.

Spencer Stevens
Office of Planning
spencer.stevens@dot.gov
Jienki Synn
Office of Planning
Jienki.Synni@dot.gov

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