FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION PLANNING: CONVERTING COMMODITY VOLUMES TO VEHICLES

Because of the effect that freight has on the transportation infrastructure, as well as local and regional economy, MPOs must have a better understanding of the amount of freight traffic on their systems before they can make knowledgeable decisions about transportation activities. Existing freight data are reported by volume and/or value. Conversions identified in the literature are general, providing simplified conversion factors. For regional or national freight flow evaluation, general conversions may be appropriate. However, for local planning activities, a more rigorous conversion is necessary to effectively evaluate the impact of freight movement on the system. The objective of this project was to develop a quantitative relationship between commodity type and volume and number of trucks and rail cars.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Supported by a grant from the US Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Massachusetts, Amherst

  Transportation Center, 130 Natural Resources Road
  Amherst, MA  United States  01003
• Authors:
  • Hancock, K L
  • Karthikeyan, S
  • Sreekanth, A
• Publication Date: 2000-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 128 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commodities; Freight cars; Freight traffic; Freight transportation; Transportation planning; Trucks; Vehicles; Volume
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; Society; Vehicles and Equipment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00801974
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Report
• Files: UTC, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 20 2000 12:00AM