Introduction

Freight Facts and Figures 2007 is a snapshot of the volume and value of freight flows in the United States, the physical network over which freight moves, the economic conditions that generate freight movements, the industry that carries freight, and the safety, energy, and environmental implications of freight transportation. This snapshot helps decision makers, planners, and the public understand the magnitude and importance of freight transportation in the economy. An electronic version of this publication is available on www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight.

The 2007 edition is expanded and reorganized to help the reader find information more easily. Chapter 1 summarizes basic demographic and economic characteristics of the United States that contribute to the demand for raw materials, intermediate goods, and finished products. Chapter 2 identifies the freight that is moved and the trading partners who move it. Chapter 3 describes the freight transportation system; volumes of freight moving over the system; the amount of truck, train, and other activity required to move the freight; and the performance of the system. Chapter 4 highlights the transportation industry that operates the system. Chapter 5 covers the safety aspects, energy consumption, and environmental implications of freight transportation.

Many of the tables and figures are based on the Economic Census, which is conducted once every five years. The most recently published data from Economic Census are for 2002.