RELIABILITY: CRITICAL TO FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION

This article explores some of the issues facing freight transportation on United States highways. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has identified several key challenges facing the freight transportation industry, including analyzing transportation network demand and trends, mitigating congestion, improving operations, integrating freight in transportation planning, enhancing national security, and building professional capacity. The authors explore how each of these challenges are being addressed, including FHWA freight initiatives, the use of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies at critical points in the supply chain, and the use of improved operations to preserve highway infrastructure and improve commercial vehicle safety. The article concludes with a summary of the four areas in which FHWA is concentrating: analyzing transportation demand and trends; boosting competitiveness through technology; preserving infrastructure; and building professional capacity.