I. The Nation Served by Freight

The Nation's 113 million households, 7.5 million business establishments, and 88,000 government units are part of an enormous economy that demands the movement of freight. The U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow almost 3 percent per year, driven in part by a population that is expected to increase from 300 million people today to 380 million in 2035, resulting in even greater demands for freight transportation in the future. (Sources are in Table 1-1.)