Office of Operations Freight Management and Operations
photos of truck, cargo ship, airplane and freight train
Office of Operations  -  21st century operations using 21st century technologies

News Archive

All current news items are listed. Narrow your search for news items by selecting a specific category or state. You also can sort news items by date by selecting the arrow next to Date.

The following news items were compiled by the FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of freight news.

View by:    All    Category    State    Date Sorted reverse-chronologically

Category: Data and Analysis

Freight Facts and Figures 2011 - 1/24/2012
The Federal Highway Administration's Office of Freight Management of Operations (HOFM) has released Freight Facts and Figures 2011. Among other topics, this publication reviews the...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies January Newsletter - 2/07/2012
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) January Newsletter, a newsletter that provides a regional awareness for improving freight transportation, contains information on the...

Interactive State Transportation Facts and Figures - 2/07/2012
The United States Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released an interactive web application allowing users to view state transportation statistics and...

November 2011 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Rose 12.7 Percent from November 2010 - 2/07/2012
Surface trade with the United States, Mexico, and Canada was reported as 12.7 percent higher in November 2011 than in November 2010, totaling $76.7 billion...

December 2011 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Rose 11.6 Percent from December 2010 - 3/07/2012
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has reported that surface trade between the United States and both Canada and Mexico was...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies March Newsletter - 3/20/2012
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) March Newsletter discusses freight dependence in the Southeastern United States. This newsletter divides freight dependence estimates from...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies April Newsletter - 5/01/2012
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) April Newsletter discusses the recently completed third annual Freight in the Southeast conference which took place in...

Washington Freight and Goods Transportation System Maps Now Available - 6/06/2012
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has released their 2011 Freight and Goods Transportation System (FGTS) maps highlighting tonnage volume classifications for Washington roadways,...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies August Newsletter - 8/15/2012
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) August Newsletter discusses datasets and charts available to download through ITTS's website, including charts on domestic freight...

June 2012 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Rose 6.6 Percent From June 2011 - 9/12/2012
The United State Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that surface trade between the United States and both Mexico and Canada was recorded at...

Logistics Spotlight Tool for Georgia - 9/24/2012
The Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics has deployed their County Logistics Spotlights, a new tool to generate reports on each of Georgia's 159 counties....

Global Freight Volumes Suggest Continuous Uncertainty - 10/25/2012
Although recent data presented during the International Transport Forum highlights continued economic uncertainty, there are indications of growing demand. For example, both the German and...

The Second Strategic Highway Research Program Highlights Freight Transportation Tools - 11/05/2012
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) has released a factsheet highlighting 21 tools included in the three-year plan to implement priority products from TRB's second Strategic...

Freight Shipments Rose 0.2 Percent in September from August - 12/07/2012
The United States Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.2 percent in September from August 2012. The...

Compilation of Papers Exploring Freight Systems - 1/09/2013
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) has published Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2288 containing 11 papers discussing freight systems. Among...

October 2012 Surface Transportation Trade with Canada and Mexico Totaled $85.3 Billion - 1/09/2013
The United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports that trade using surface transportation between the United States, Canada and Mexico increased by 7.9 percent...

Freight Facts and Figures 2012 - 1/30/2013
The Federal Highway Administration's Office of Freight Management of Operations has released Freight Facts and Figures 2012. This report is a snapshot of the volume...

Report on Freight Demand Modeling and Data Improvement Strategic Plan - 2/25/2013
The Transportation Research Board's Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) has released a report entitled Freight Demand Modeling and Data Improvement Strategic Plan. The goal...

Freight Shipments Rose 1.2% in January from December - 3/19/2013
The United States Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 1.2 percent in January 2013 from December 2012....

Freight Demand Modeling and Data Improvement - 4/02/2013
The Transportation Research Board's (TRB) Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) has published a report for the Capacity Project C20 highlighting the state of the...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies March Newsletter - 4/02/2013
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) March Newsletter discusses a 2012 update to the state export data provides by ITTS. This data are...

North American Trade Numbers by Mode of Transportation for January - 4/02/2013
The United States Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports that the value of trade between the United States and North American trading...

Freight Data Cost Elements and Their Role in Public Investment, Policy, and Regulatory Decision Making - 5/01/2013
The Transportation Research Board published a report on freight data cost elements focused on identifying the state of the practice for multimodal freight transportation cost...

Freight Data Sharing Guidebook Now Available - 6/17/2013
The Transportation Research Board's (TRB) National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) released a guidebook on sharing freight data, primarily between public and private freight stakeholders....

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies June Newsletter - 7/15/2013
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) has released their June newsletter discussing the link between manufacturing and a State's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)...

Freight Shipments Fell 0.2 Percent in June from May - 8/19/2013
The United States Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.2 percent in June 2013 from May 2013....

Project Brief: Innovations in Freight Demand Modeling and Data - 8/19/2013
The Transportation Research Board's (TRB) second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) has released a four-page project brief discussing innovations in freight demand modeling and...

Freight Shipments Rose 0.3 Percent in July from June - 9/16/2013
The United States Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.3 percent in July 2013 from June 2013....

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies August Newsletter - 9/16/2013
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) has released their August newsletter discussing maritime trade and its effects to the economy of the United...

USDOT Releases State Transportation Statistics 2012 - 10/01/2013
The United States Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released the 2012 update to the State Transportation Statistics report and corresponding interactive...

Guidebook for Developing Subnational Commodity Flow Data - 10/16/2013
TRB's National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) has published Report 26: Guidebook for Developing Subnational Commodity Flow Data. This guidebook provides direction for state and...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies September Newsletter - 10/16/2013
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) September Newsletter discusses air and maritime freight in the southeast United States presenting trade data and highlighting...

Adapting Freight Models and Traditional Freight Data Programs for Performance Management: Summary of a Workshop - 10/29/2013
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) has made available conference proceedings from a recent two-day freight modeling conference held in Washington, DC. This report highlights the...

FHWA's Listening Session I & II of the Freight Analysis Framework Development - 11/25/2013
This webinar consists of two listening sessions the Office of Operation of FHWA plans for public involvement and participation to the development of the Freight...

Freight Shipments Rose 0.8% in September from August - 11/26/2013
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) reports that their Transportation Services Index (TSI) has risen 0.8 percent in September from August...

Bureau of Transportation Statistics Releases Preliminary 2012 Commodity Flow Survey Data - 12/24/2013
The United States Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics has released their preliminary 2012 update for the Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) data. The CFS...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies November Newsletter - 12/24/2013
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) November Newsletter discusses Missouri's participation in ITTS and the approaching Freight in the Southeast Conference. In addition,...

Freight Shipments Fell 0.7% in October from September - 1/08/2014
The United State Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports that the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry fell 0.7...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies January Newsletter - 2/03/2014
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) has published their January Newsletter. Among other updates, this issue includes a discussion on the upcoming ITTS...

Value of Freight Time Variability Reductions: Results From a Pilot Study Performed on Behalf of the Swedish Transport Administration - 2/03/2014
The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute published results from a pilot study highlighting the value of freight time variability reductions. This report is...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies February Newsletter - 3/05/2014
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) has published their February newsletter. Among other updates, this issue includes a discussion on the upcoming ITTS...

Three of Five Modes Carried More North American Trade in December 2013 than in December 2012 - 3/05/2014
The United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released data on North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) trade highlighting that three of five transportation...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies April Newsletter - 5/21/2014
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) has published their April newsletter. Among other updates, this issue includes a summary of the ITTS Conference,...

Freight Commodity Flows: Selected Washington State Highways - 6/10/2014
Researchers from Washington State University have conducted a series of seasonal truck surveys at seven locations across Washington State. The results of these surveys allowed...

Freight Facts and Figures 2013 - 7/14/2014
The Federal Highway Administration's Office of Freight Management of Operations has released Freight Facts and Figures 2013. This report is a snapshot of the volume...

Freight Shipments in May 2014 Reach All-time High - 7/15/2014
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) reports that their Transportation Services Index (TSI) has risen to an all-time high of 120.0,...

Proposed Port of Cincinnati Statistical Boundary Re-designation - 8/04/2014
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is considering a proposal from the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority and the Northern Kentucky Port...

Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies August 2014 Newsletter - 8/20/2014
The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies (ITTS) has published their August newsletter. Among other updates, this issue includes discussions on the importance of maritime...

Making Trucks Count: Innovative Strategies for Obtaining Comprehensive Truck Activity Data - 8/20/2014
The Transportation Research Board's National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) has released a report highlighting innovative approaches for obtaining comprehensive truck-activity data that can be...

Using Truck Fleet Data in Combination with Other Data Sources for Freight Modeling and Planning - 8/29/2014
The Florida Department of Transportation has completed a report investigating the use of truck GPS data for us in statewide freight modeling and planning applications....

Bureau of Transportation Statistics Releases State Transportation Statistics 2014 - 9/29/2014
The United States Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released the 2014 update to the State Transportation Statistics report. Chapter 3 of...

Freight Data Architecture Business Process, Logical Data Model, and Physical Data Model - 10/27/2014
The Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas has published a report summarizing best practices in freight data-sharing activities. This report includes information...

Development of Performance Measurement for Freight Transportation - 11/13/2014
In coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) and Federal Highway Administration, researchers from the Louisiana State University have...

Place Central to Metropolitan Trade and Freight Investment - 11/13/2014
While major metropolitan areas are often a hub linking different trade markets, there is not a clear understanding of exactly what goods are moving through...

Truck Freight Commodity Flows: US 395 North of Spokane Washington - 11/24/2014
The Washington State Department of Transportation has completed a study that included a series of truck surveys at three key locations along the US 395...

2015 Pocket Guide to Transportation - 1/26/2015
The United States Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics has released their 2015 update of the Pocket Guide to Transportation. This publication presents transportation...

National Multimodal Freight Analysis Framework Research Workshop - 2/26/2015
The Federal Highway Administration has released a report that summarizes a one-day workshop on national multimodal freight analysis framework research, including the state of the...

BTS Releases March 2015 North American Freight Numbers - 6/03/2015
U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $96.1 billion in March 2015 as three out of five transportation modes — air, rail, and truck — carried more U.S.-NAFTA freight...

BTS Releases April 2015 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 6/18/2015
The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland...

ATA Truck Tonnage Index Rises 1.1% in May; Posts 1.8% Year-Over-Year - 6/30/2015
The American Trucking Associations' (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 1.1 percent in May, following a revised loss of 1.4 percent during...

BTS Releases April 2015 North American Freight Numbers - 6/30/2015
U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $93.3 billion in April 2015 as all modes but air carried less U.S.-NAFTA freight than in April 2014, according to the TransBorder...

Commodity Flow Survey Microdata - Now Available - 6/30/2015
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau released a public use microdata product from the 2012 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS). This new...

GAO Report Supports Positive Safety Impact of Hours-of-Service Rule - 8/12/2015
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a response to the recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that examined the Agency's 2014 study...

BTS Releases June 2015 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 8/25/2015
The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, fell 0.3 percent in June...

BTS Reports Freight TSI Hits a New All-Time High - 10/21/2015
The Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported on October 15, 2015, that its Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) increased 0.2 percent from...

November Freight Trends Show Improvement, but Fleets Unsure About Pre-Holiday Peak - 12/03/2015
November freight trends generally are improving, most fleet executives and experts say, but a repeat of the strong 2014 pre-holiday freight peak that bolstered fleets...

Cargo Volumes Handled by U.S. Seaports on the Rise - 2/11/2016
According to a newly released U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's report, seaports are seeing a steady rise in waterborne cargo volumes. The 2014 freight tonnages...

NHTSA Report Shows Increase in Truck-Related Fatalities in 2015 - 7/13/2016
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows an increase in truck related crashes with fatalities in 2015 compared to 2014. According to...

July 2016 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 9/20/2016
The amount of for-hire freight rose 1.6 percent in July from June, the fourth consecutive monthly gain and a new record high. The increase places...

New FHWA Rules Aim to Improve Performance of Nation's Highway System - 1/17/2017
USDOT Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released two final rules outlining new performance measures to improve road and bridge conditions, and assess travel reliability, congestion and...

Atlanta Interchange Retains Top Spot in ATRI's Truck Bottleneck Rankings - 2/03/2017
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released the 2017 "Top Bottleneck List". Atlanta's I-295 / I-85 "Spaghetti Junction" Interchange topped the list, followed by I-95...

BTS Statistics Release: December 2016 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 2/14/2017
The Federal Highway Administration Bureau of Transportation Statistics (FHWA BTS) released the updated December 2016 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI). The TSI measures "month-to-month changes...

3.2 Trillion Miles Driven on U.S. Roads in 2016 - 3/02/2017
The Federal Highway Research Administration (FHWA) released updated nationwide driving estimates. In 2016, driving on public roads increased for the fifth straight year, topping 3.2...

Spring Came Early in These Freight Markets - 4/06/2017
Per the DAT Solutions blog, from February 26 to March 4, load-to-truck ratios were highest in Idaho and Arkansas. Increased van loads were available out...

Spot Truckload Rates Steady, Freight Volume Inches Higher - 5/02/2017
DAT Solutions reports that nationwide spot van, reefer, and flatbed freight rates held steady for the week ending April 22. Prices in major markets continued...

Freight Intermodal Connectors Study - 5/23/2017
Freight intermodal connectors are roads that provide the "last mile" connection between major intermodal freight facilities (e.g., ports, airports, intermodal rail yards) and the National...

Enhancing Safety and Operations at Complex Interchanges With Improved Signing, Markings, and Integrated Geometry - 7/09/2018
The purpose of the study was to develop recommendations for signing, delineation, and geometric design that will reduce workloads at critical points approaching interchanges that...

April 2018 North American Freight Numbers - 7/16/2018
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the April 2018 North American Freight Numbers...

Freight Data Fusion from Multiple Data Sources for Freight Planning Applications in Florida - 7/16/2018
The Florida Department of Transportation developed a fused database from the Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) and Transearch (TS). This new database helps address the lack...

Producer Price Data Shows Surging Trucking, Transportation Rates - 7/16/2018
Trucking prices surged again in June. The producer price index (PPI) rose 0.3% over May. General freight trucking posted a gain of 1.5% in June,...

Dog Days of Summer Freight - 8/14/2018
Even though freight rates are down compared to June, they are 25-30% higher than last summer. The rise in van volumes in key cities point...

Investigation of Gender Differences in Large-Truck Crash Injury Severity in Missouri - 8/14/2018
This University of Missouri study reviewed Missouri crash data involving large trucks from 2002 to 2012. The goal of the study was to see if...

Predicting Truck Crash Involvement: 2018 Update - 8/14/2018
The American Transportations Research Institute’s Crash Predictor report was created in 2004 as an analytical tool for predicting future crash involvement based on historical data....

June 2018 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 8/30/2018
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the June 2018 Freight Transportation Services Index...

2017 Freight Conditions and Performance Report - 9/10/2018
The 2017 Freight Conditions and Performance Report, which was prepared by the FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations, was recently published. This report, which...

2018 Pocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics - 9/24/2018
FMCSA's 2018 Pocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics is a compilation of statistics from the overall state of the industry to enforcement activity,...

Development of a Freight System Conceptualization and Impact Assessment (Fre-SCANDIA) Framework - 9/24/2018
The National Center for Sustainable Transportation, under the sponsorship of the California Department of Transportation, developed a framework, using a Life Cycle Assessment, that analyzes...

Expect Rates to Rise as Hurricane Florence Relief Begins - 9/24/2018
As the relief effort begins in North and South Carolina, freight rates are expected to rise in the Southeast. Typically, relief freight comes first via...

Analyzing Travelers' Response to Different Active Traffic Management (ATM) Technologies - 10/24/2018
The Maryland Transportation Institute (MTI) created a tool for real-time and dynamic analysis of active traffic management (ATM) strategies. The model can assess different aspects...

August 2018 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 10/24/2018
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the August 2018 Freight Transportation Services Index...

First-of-its-Kind Study to Analyze Truck Traffic in Seattle Downtown Core - 11/05/2018
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and University of Washington's Urban Research Lab used video from SDOT's "Truck/Passenger Vehicle Cordon Count" to count and analyze...

Impacts of the I-77 Variable Speed Limit System on Speed and Crash Characteristics During Low Visibility Conditions - 11/05/2018
I-77 in Virginia passes through very mountainous terrain that is prone to severe fog. In October 2016, the Virginia Department of Transportation implemented a variable...

September 2018 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 11/27/2018
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the September 2018 Freight Transportation Services Index...

Freight Economy Continues to Grow, Despite Market Volatility - 12/19/2018
Despite the uncertainty of global markets, the freight economy continues to grow at an above average pace. Good flows are a good economic predictor. Since...

October 2018 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 1/03/2019
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the October 2018 Freight Transportation Services Index...

December 2018 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 3/04/2019
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the December 2018 Freight Transportation Services Index...

Respecting Your ELDers: The Extra Benefits - 3/04/2019
Mandated use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) went in to effect in December 2017. A side benefit of using ELDs is the new data available...

New ATRI Research Quantifies Impacts of Congestion on Fuel Consumption and Emissions - 3/12/2019
Utilizing ATRI's truck GPS database, daily trip counts by the Georgia Department of Transportation, and emissions factors from the U.S. EPA's emissions model, ATRI studied...

January 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 3/26/2019
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the January 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index...

February 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) - 4/23/2019
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the February 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index...

Measuring the Effectiveness of Public Involvement in Transportation Planning and Project Development - 5/22/2019
There are few practical or valid methods to gauge the success of public outreach initiatives in transportation. The goal of this project was to create...

States Contribute Images for 270K Miles of Roads to Database - 5/22/2019
Focusing on collaborative mapping, Departments of Transportation (DOT) in Utah, Florida, Arizona, Connecticut, and Vermont have provided Mapillary, a hosting platform for street-level imagery, with...

March 2019 Freight Transportation Service Index (TSI) - 6/04/2019
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the March 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index...

Understand and Using New Data Sources to Address Urban and Metropolitan Freight Challenges - 6/27/2019
The rapid explosion of new freight data sources is creating significant opportunities for more effective and well-targeted planning and operation of roadways, particularly in urban...

Best Practices for Determining Life Cycle Costs of Asphalt Pavements - 7/02/2019
This report provides the best practices for determining inputs for life cycle cost analysis for pavement alternatives. Analysis inputs discussed include analysis period of time,...

Titan — An Interactive Web-Based Platform for Transportation Data Integration and Analytics - 7/16/2019
TITAN is a prototype interactive web-based platform developed by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to demonstrate the possibilities of using big data software. TITAN...

Van Rates Hit Highest Mark Since January - 7/16/2019
Van transport cost rates for June were up from the May average and were the highest since January. Rates increased in 66 of the top...

May 2019 Freight Transportation Service Index (TSI) - 8/01/2019
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the May 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index...

ATA Truck Tonnage Index Surged 6.6% in July - 8/29/2019
After falling in June, the American Trucking Associations advanced seasonally adjusted (AS) For-Hire Tonnage Index increased 6.6% in July 2019. Compared to July of 2018,...

July 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index - 10/04/2019
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the July 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index...

August 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index - 10/29/2019
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the July 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index...

Transportation Research Circular: Innovations in Freight Data Workshop - 10/29/2019
This report is a summary of the presentations given during the second Innovations in Freight Data Workshop held April 9-10, 2019. The workshop brought together...

Van Volumes Keep Rising. When will Rates? - 11/06/2019
Despite record high truckload van shipments, rates continue to slip. So far, this year's increase in capacity absorbed the increase in demand, keeping rates down....

An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2019 Update - 11/25/2019
As an update to their previous report, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) used new data collection processes to develop more accurate trucking industry operation...

Management and Use of Data for Transportation Performance Management: Guide for Practitioners - 11/25/2019
Transportation Performance Management (TPM) is critical for state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and local agencies try to demonstrate the achievement of agency objects...

September 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index - 12/04/2019
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the September 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index...

November 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index - 1/22/2020
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the November 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index...

Winter Doldrums Put Drag on Truckload Rates - 2/19/2020
Typically, February is the lowest month for volumes and rates. Leading in to February 2020, volumes have remained steady, however rates are down. Dry van...

December 2019 Freight Transportation Service Index - 2/26/2020
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the December 2019 Freight Transportation Services Index...

February 2020 Freight Transportation Services Index - 4/23/2020
The USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (RITA) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published the February 2020 Freight Transportation Services Index...

Opportunities and Challenges in Statistical Analysis of Transportation Data: Where We Are and Where We are Going - 4/29/2020
The TRB Standing Technical Committee on Statistical Methods submitted their Centennial Paper on April 14, 2020. The purpose of the committee is to promote and...

History Matters: How Freight Forecasts Learn From the Past - 6/17/2020
What makes a good foundation for predictive modeling? Models must have access detailed and accurate history with which to base decisions. In addition, they need...

Van Demand Indicators Tick Higher As Outlook For Rates Recovery Brightens - 6/17/2020
Going in to Memorial Day weekend, spot rates were up in the Nation's busiest lanes for truckload freight compared to the start of May. Load-to-truck...

Guidebook for Managing Data from Emerging Technologies for Transportation - 7/09/2020
As transportation technologies expand, the amount of available data sets for analysis expands as well. If used correctly, these data sets have the potential to...

ATRI Issues Call for Motor Carriers to Participate in Annual Operational Costs Data Collection - 7/29/2020
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is preparing to update its Operation Costs of Trucking report. ATRI uses data from trucking fleets and owner-operators to...

National Coalition on Truck Parking 2018 Working Groups Activity Report - 9/18/2020
Now available is the "2018 Working Groups Activity Report" from the National Coalition on Truck Parking, which highlights best practices in the provision of truck...

Financial Issues Remain, but USPS Shows Improved Fiscal Second Quarter Results - 5/24/2021
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is continuing to receive increases in revenues from its Shipping and Packages Group, due to continued growth in e-commerce....

Bloomberg Odd Lots Podcast: How the World's Companies Wound Up in a Deepening Supply Chain Nightmare - 7/14/2021
This episode discusses the causes and potential solutions for the various shortages and bottlenecks currently impacting global supply chains.

CDL holders banned from driving due to drugs, alcohol top 60,000 - 7/14/2021
The latest monthly report from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse showed that 60,299 holders of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) had drug or alcohol violations recorded...

Borderlands: Shipping container squeeze hits US soybean exporters - 8/11/2021
The United States is exporting higher volumes of agricultural commodities, like corn, citrus, poultry, pork, beef, and soybeans, despite high container and bulk shipping rates...

FMCSA Plans to Increase Windshield Area to Mount Safety Devices - 8/16/2021
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend its regulations to allow an increased number of vehicle safety...

What will the reopening of the Canadian border mean for freight? - 8/16/2021
The border between the United States and Canada will reopen for nonessential travel after a 16-month closure, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While freight continued...

Container sector is so hot that ships rent for $200,000/day - 10/07/2021
Short-term charter rates for container ships are at some of the highest rates ever; there is debate over whether rates will continue to grow or...

FMCSA Medical Board to Review Recalled CPAP Machines - 10/07/2021
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) medical board is planning to review continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machines, which treat sleep apnea. Commercial truck...

Record shattered: 65 container ships stuck waiting off California - 10/07/2021
Currently, a daily record-high 65 container ships are waiting offshore of the Los Angeles-area ports, due to congestion onshore at terminals, and warehouses and transportation...

Spot Rates Have Peaked, Some Shipping Lines Say - 10/07/2021
Major ocean shipping lines froze spot rates from Asia to Europe and the United States; prices had been increasing due to reduced capacity and the...

Climate Resilience: Options to Enhance the Resilience of Federally Funded Roads and Reduce Fiscal Exposure - 10/18/2021
The Government Accountability Office identified 10 options to help States improve the climate resilience of federally funded roads, to mitigate climate-related damages to paved roads....

Safer Railroading: A Guide Toward Targeted Safety Policy - 10/18/2021
While railroad safety is relatively high compared to other transportation modes, safety gains for some metrics have plateaued or are decreasing. This report provides a...

Southeast US ports seek to ramp up container capacity - 10/18/2021
The ports of Savannah, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida are adding container capacity in response to increased volumes of goods bound for markets in the southeastern...

Omaha Will Launch 'Smart Loading Zones' to Maximize Curb Use - 12/14/2021
The City of Omaha, Nebraska is partnering with a private sector firm specializing in video analytics to better manage curb space, in an attempt to...

Gene Seroka on What’s Happening Now at the Port of LA (Podcast) - 12/20/2021
This episode of the Odd Lots podcast discusses the current congestion at the Port of Los Angeles with its executive director, Gene Seroka. While some...

Driver Alcohol Detection System Technology Test Underway - 12/23/2021
The Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) and U.S. truckload carrier Schneider recently began pilot testing technology developed by the Driver Alcohol Detection System for...

Electric truck production cutting in line ahead of diesel orders - 1/25/2022
Class 8 diesel-powered trucks take 12 months to clear manufacturers' backlogs and begin building the vehicles, while electric trucks are only taking three months, allowing...

A Historic Disruption to the World's Wheat Supply - 5/19/2022
This episode of the Bloomberg Odd Lots Podcast features an interview with Scott Irwin, an agricultural economist at the University of Illinois, discussing the potential...

Deep Dive: Why US West Coast Dockworker Union Negotiations Could Rock Container Shipping (Podcast) - 5/19/2022
This episode of the Deep Dive Loadstar Podcast discusses the concerns over potential labor shortages if the ongoing negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse...

DOE Projects Zero Emissions Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks Will Be Cheaper than Diesel-Powered Trucks by 2035 - 5/19/2022
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) released a report that shows that by 2030, 50 percent of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks will be...

Is Latest Jobs Report a Sign of a Weaker Freight Market? - 5/19/2022
The number of truck transportation jobs in the United States decreased in March 2022, the first time this figure decreased since April 2020 at the...

Jeff Currie on the 'Volatility Trap' Keeping Commodity Prices So High - 5/19/2022
This episode of the Bloomberg Odd Lots podcast interviews Jeff Currie, a commodity analyst at Goldman Sachs about current trends and future predictions about commodity...

North American 'Big Box' Transactions Continue to Gain Traction, Reports CBRE - 5/19/2022
The commercial real estate firm Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis' (CBRE) research found that warehouse transactions involving large retailers and wholesalers set a record on a...

The Federal Highway Administration’s Freight Professional Capacity Building Website - 1/30/2023
The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Office of Operations is pleased to announce the launch of its new Freight Professional Capacity Building (Freight PCB) website.

Office of Operations