What's New in Freight Transportation

The New Zealand Transport Agency has released a report that identifies potential ways to overcome barriers faced by managers of New Zealand's light and heavy vehicle fleets in attempting to implement fuel efficiency as part of their normal way of doing business.

The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has released its strategic plan for the next five years. The plan is designed to establish a framework that places safety as the highest priority and employs three core principles--raising the bar to entry, maintaining high safety standards, and removing high-risk carriers and drivers.

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.4 percent in March, the latest month available, to 111.3. The TSI March 2012 level of 111.3 was 1.1 percent higher than the March 2011 level. The index, which is seasonally adjusted, combines available data on freight traffic, as well as passenger travel, that have been weighte...

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released findings from the first phase of a three-part research effort aimed at helping to mitigate large truck rollovers. ATRI’s first phase produced a database of locations with the highest frequency of large truck rollovers using more than 50,000 crash records from a nine-year period.  The full report, state-specific su...

Join more than 150 transportation professionals expected to participate in the 2012 TRB Planning Committee Summer Meeting, July 8-10, 2012, in Irvine, California. Transportation professionals specializing in planning, policy, and data systems will share information in open committee meetings, joint collaborative discussions, and general sessions. Advance registration expires June 8, 2...

TRB’s Technical Activities Division has an opening for a Marine and Freight Transportation Senior Program Officer to work in the areas of research, engineering, water transportation, freight, critical infrastructure protection, and security. The Senior Program Officer independently manages multiple/complex programs/projects. Manages standing committees and task forces within the TRB M...

The spotlight theme for the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting, January 13-17, 2013, in Washington, D.C., is Deploying Transportation Research—Doing Things Smarter, Better, Faster. These uncertain times are also exciting times for the transportation community, which looks to build on its successes as never before. Spotlight sessions, workshops, and discussions at the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting will highlight...

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute has released a report that reviews the status of truck safety in four countries: Australia, Brazil, China, and the United States. The report explores the role of road freight transportation in each country, characterizes the current level of safety, and identifies truck safety challenges within each country.

The U.K.’s Rail Safety and Standards Board has released a report that explores calculations and aerodynamic tests of roll-over wind speed for freight rail containers.

TRB's National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) is soliciting nominations of individuals to serve on oversight panels for new projects being established under NCFRP's fiscal year 2012 program. Nominees should have expertise directly relevant to the proposed project topic. The nomination of women and members of minority groups is encouraged. Panels for the new research projects are s...

TRB standing committees have issued  calls for papers for the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting, January 13-17, 2013, in Washington, D.C, and the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (TRR). While papers addressing any relevant aspect of transportation research will be considered, some committees are soliciting papers in specific subject areas to help potential...

The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies has released the latest issue of its periodic newsletter that reports on the domestic and international infrastructure, transportation, and safety implications of commercial freight movements.

Roundabouts have seen unprecedented growth across the United States, from just a handful a decade ago to more than 2,000 and counting. National guidance had to keep pace with the needs of states and communities planning and implementing roundabouts, and NCHRP took a lead role.

TRB’s Conference Proceedings on the Web 5: Research on the Health and Wellness of Commercial Truck and Bus Drivers: Summary of an International Conference is the proceedings of a November 2010 conference held in Baltimore, Maryland. The proceedings highlight and document what transpired at the conference; summarize noteworthy issues and gaps in knowledge identified at the conference; and descri...

TRB’s National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) Report 15: Dedicated Revenue Mechanisms for Freight Transportation Investment explores methods that might be used to raise revenue to support government investment in freight transportation facilities, primarily for highway transportation. The report assesses revenue-generating mechanisms such as motor-vehicle fuel tax surcharges, vehi...

TRB is sponsoring the 2012 Freight Systems Group Midyear Meeting on June 21, 2012, in Washington, D.C. As a forum for the discussion of freight systems topics, the meeting will include several plenary sessions that will explore supply chain and industry trends, freight infrastructure funding, the adoption of alternative fuel sources for trucks, and safety and security considerations related to ...

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.3 percent in February, the latest month available, to 111.8. The TSI February 2012 level of 111.8 was 3.3 percent higher than the February 2011 level. The index, which is seasonally adjusted, combines available data on freight traffic, as well as passenger travel, that have been weighted to yield a mon...

The Norwegian Institute of Transport Economics has released a report that explores a stated preference study of railway freight users and the importance that they place on reducing travel time and increasing reliability.  The report is written in Norwegian with an English summary.

In regions across the nation, bridge engineers know that the next major seismic event is coming—maybe tomorrow, maybe centuries from now. DOTs have the critical charge of designing for earthquakes and protecting the lives of travelers.

The Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies has released the latest issue of its periodic newsletter that reports on the domestic and international infrastructure, transportation, and safety implications of commercial freight movements.

TRB’s National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) Report 16: Preserving and Protecting Freight Infrastructure and Routes provides guidance to decision makers involved in freight facility operations, freight transportation planning, and land use on how to avoid conflicting land uses or mitigate existing uses. The report provides information about freight transportation and its importan...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a report that examines trends in the type of transportation used to move grains grown for the food and feed industry.

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2261 consists of 21 papers that explore the economic impacts of high-speed rail and intercity passenger rail service, safe high-speed rail operation, fire development and spread in passenger rail vehicles, geometry of high-speed turnouts, and international variation in cost–benefit analysis of urban rail pro...

TRB’s National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) Report 14: Guidebook for Understanding Urban Goods Movement is designed to help facilitate decisions that accommodate and expedite urban goods movement while minimizing the environmental impact and community consequences of goods movement. The guidebook and cases studies are designed to help decision makers better understand the potent...

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 2.5 percent in January, the latest month available, to 111.5. The TSI January 2012 level of 111.5 was 1.9 percent higher than the January 2011 level. The index, which is seasonally adjusted, combines available data on freight traffic, as well as passenger travel, that have been weighted to yield a monthl...

TRB’s National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) Web-Only Document 4: Identification and Evaluation of Freight Demand Factors focuses on the identification of independent variables that may be used to explain gross measures of freight demand over time.

Hampton University’s Eastern Seaboard Intermodal Transportation Applications Center has released the latest issue of its e-newsletter, which highlights the activities of the center.  The mission of the center is to enhance regional intermodal transportation systems by improving safety and efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts.

On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security held a hearing to examine the integrity of the supply chain, the government agencies whose job it is to screen and inspect cargo to secure our ports, and how the National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security outlines the nation’s plan to guard agains...

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 2.9 percent in December, the latest month available, to 114.4. The TSI December 2011 level of 114.4 was 5.3 percent higher than the December 2010 level. The index, which is seasonally adjusted, combines available data on freight traffic, as well as passenger travel, that have been weighted to yield a mon...

The New Zealand Transport Agency has released a report that explores the whole-of-life environmental performance of passenger and freight movement.