Making truck-rail intermodal more competitive.

PDFTech ReportCFIRE 02-28DTRT06-G-0020Intermodal transportationTruckingFreight transportationPolicyRailroad transportationCostsQuality of serviceUnited StatesNational Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (U.S.)Kawamura, KazuyaWittwer, ErnieVarda, JohnNational Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (U.S.)United States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionTruck-rail intermodal freight is a technique that can gain much of the benefit of truck service and rail efficiency. Despite the attraction of the modechoice and its benefit in reducing emissions and highway congestion, the mode typically is used only over long distances. While a number ofenvironmental factors, such as the price of fuel and labor, are combining to make intermodal more attractive, the question remains as to what measurespublic policymakers might employee to speed the adoption of intermodal. To gain insight into this question, professionals from the logistics industrieswere interviewe