Congestion threatens U.S. transportation infrastructure
Freight mobility study reveals changes in international trade
 The forecast for global trade is on target for record figures. According to the 2003 U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s trade and transportation study, domestic freight levels are expected to at least double by 2020. Several Asian nations, specifically China, which joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, are the driving forces behind this growth.
How does the U.S. position for this growth? The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) is concentrating on the nation’s transportation infrastructure and congestion.
“Transportation system congestion is one of the single largest threats to our nation’s economic prosperity and way of life,” says the U.S. DOT.
To address the issue of freight mobility, the Coalition of Alabama Waterway Associations took a proactive step and hired Hanson to examine the way goods move across the state. Alabama features more than 1,500 miles of navigable waterways, providing cost-effective and energy-efficient transportation for shippers and suppliers throughout the state and the southeastern U.S.
Ron Coles, P.E., who directs Hanson’s ports and harbors services, says the U.S. will need all modes of transportation operating at maximum capacity to handle the projected increased freight levels.
Finding other options
Highway and rail transportation are becoming congested at their current capacity, according to U.S. DOT figures. Waterway transportation is one alternative, as waterways remain an opportunity for growth without major investment for increased freight movement. Waterway transportation is a competitive and viable option, considering it is energy efficient, environmentally friendly and cost effective.
According to the U.S. DOT, one gallon of diesel fuel will transport one ton of freight 514 miles by barge, 202 miles by rail and 59 miles by truck. The U.S. DOT also notes that barges produce the least amount of air pollution and have the fewest transportation incidents—when compared to truck or rail.
Waterway transportation has its own challenges too. In the past, barge traffic has had the stigma of being a slow shipping option. This has overshadowed its value and dependability, which is a message that ports and harbors are determined to share.
While waterway transportation has many benefits, preparing to maximize a waterway’s resources takes extensive knowledge and understanding of the market, solid partnerships and a strategic plan.
“The purpose of the study is to explore how efficient use of the transportation system, including waterways, can better enable U.S. manufacturers and producers to be competitive in a global environment,” says Coles.
During the study, Hanson’s team analyzed freight movements in Alabama and the surrounding region using case studies, interviews and other research.
Studying Alabama’s freight mobility
To understand the viability of a regional port operation, Hanson helped conduct a survey of area shippers, freight forwarders and carriers to learn preferences and priorities.
When respondents were asked about their shipping priority,
• 48 percent stated reliability,
• 37 percent stated cost, and
• 15 percent stated transit
time.
With nearly half of respondents selecting reliable shipping as their foremost concern, Hanson then analyzed their current shipping methods reliability. Fifty-six percent of respondents said they experienced at least 90 percent “on time” shipments, and all respondents said they had at least 75 percent “on time” shipments.
Using this information, Hanson determined that the possibility of expanding inland waterway transportation was favorable, especially when barges have reliable delivery schedules. But their transit time may be longer than a train or truck.
Through this assessment, the Coalition now has information to support its economic strategies for the transportation system in Alabama and across the United States.
“The Alabama Freight Mobility Study has helped us confirm what we in the waterways industry already knew about the benefits and untapped potential of waterway transportation. A major revelation is that few decision-makers in the transportation industry have incorporated waterways into their business model,” says Jerry Sailors, project manager for the Coalition.
To view this study click here.
For more information, contact Ron Coles at (615) 665-9611 or at rcoles@hanson-inc.com.
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