Excerpt from KC SmartPort June e-News

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A recent article in the Journal of Commerce stated that shippers surveyed by Wolfe Research in March and April expect their volume to rise 3.6 percent over the coming year — the highest in four years. Railcar and intermodal growth are expected to drive total freight volume, with each expanding 5 percent over the next 12 months.

As volume increases, trucking capacity and congestion become a concern. The American Transportation Research Institute released a report in April titled, The Cost of Congestion to the Trucking Industry. Compared to other metros, the Kansas City region looked strong. For example, Chicago had the third highest cost of congestion in 2013 totaling close to $467 million while the Kansas City metro only totaled around $46 million. Due to extensive highway infrastructure, Kansas City does not experience significant and costly congestion issues.