NATIONAL ITS/INTERMODAL FREIGHT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

This report recommends the development of a national intelligent transportation system (ITS) program for intermodal freight that will promote the application of ITS technology to enhance the safety, reliability, and responsiveness of the intermodal freight system. The report describes current applications of ITS technologies to freight movement and opportunities for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to accelerate the application of ITS technologies to intermodal freight movement. The private sector has played the primary role in developing and applying advanced information technology to shipment and asset management, including shipment tracing and information systems; inventory and stowage management systems; and asset location and management systems. There has been parallel development of ITS by the public sector for traffic and highway management, including traveler information systems, toll collection systems, and traffic management systems. Three areas of opportunity for the U.S. DOT to improve intermodal freight movement through the application of ITS technologies are: Business strategy - develop business and organizational strategies that will increase interaction and collaboration among the intermodal stakeholders in the public and private sectors; Information technology - improve intermodal freight operations through the development of data-exchange standards and interoperable freight-identification technologies; and Intermodal operations - improve shipment tracing and management, reduce congestion at gates and terminals, and improve route and fleet management through a series of operational tests that apply information technology and ITS to intermodal freight problems.