Our Nation’s Freight System

Our nation’s freight transportation system is a vast, complex network of almost SEVEN MILLION miles of highways, local roads, railways, navigable waterways, and pipelines. The components of this network are linked to each other through thousands of seaports, airports, and intermodal facilities. This system accommodates the movement of raw materials and finished products from the entire spectrum of the agricultural, industrial, retail, and service sectors of our economy.

  • More than 3.1 million Americans are employed in operating and supporting the millions of trucks, trains, aircraft, ships, and barges that traverse this network, as well as in businesses that coordinate the logistics of these operations.

  • Collectively, this multimodal network directly supports 44 million jobs and affects the quality of life that every American has come to rely on today.

  • It is a critical force in the world’s largest economy, with United States (U.S.) gross domestic product (GDP) estimated to exceed $17.9 trillion in 2015.

  • Each day, the system moves 55 million tons of goods, worth more than $49 billion; over the course of a year, that’s over 63 tons for each one of us.

 


National Freight Strategic Plan

Just this past weekend, Secretary Foxx released the draft National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP). He was joined in making the announcement by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA). The plan is now open for public comment and can be accessed online here.

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According to USDOT, the NFSP aims to describe the freight transportation system and future demands on it; identify major corridors and gateways; assess physical, institutional, and financial barriers to improvement; and specify best practices for enhancing the system. The 143-page NFSP outlines six identified key trends and challenges, as well as strategies to address and meet these challenges. The plan also includes a map of a proposed Multimodal National Freight Network (MNFP) that incorporates ports, border crossings, rail lines and highways.

 

 


Interactive Map

Check out the Interactive Map here.

You will probably need the User’s Guide, but you can also wait for future integration with this type of information on Scarbrough’s own website.

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The NASCO Network

This new was released to us by the NASCO Network.  Scarbrough is a proud supporter of the NASCO Network.

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North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO) is the leading organization focused on the competitiveness of the North American supply chain, workforce and energy independence.

We are the only tri-national network of North American governments, businesses, and educational institutions, driven by a common interest in collaboration along commercial corridors and trade networks. Founded in 1994, we encourage North America’s competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Our North American Strategy for Competitiveness: · Improve the North American supply chain, logistics systems and transportation network · Eliminate unnecessary trade barriers and reduce cross border inefficiencies · Strengthen the quality of the North American workforce · Promote North American energy independence, security and opportunity