Freight Capacity and Performance Challenges

This chapter summarizes the capacity challenges that characterize the current freight transportation system in the United States. Ensuring an efficient, reliable, and safe freight system will require concerted efforts from both government agencies and the private sector. There is ample evidence that the system is becoming increasing strained, and disruptions is one part of the system can reverberate across the others and create bottlenecks that can adversely affect our national economy. Of particular concerns is the rapid growth in the demand for freight transportation that is expected for the future. The capacity of the current freight system and projected increases in demand suggest that the U.S. freight systems could become severely strained.