2016 Freight Quick Facts Report

2016PDFTech ReportFHWA-HOP-16-083DTFH61-11-D-00015/5012Economic impactsFinancingFreight transportationFreight trafficEnvironmental impactsUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationWorth, MonicaGuerrero, SebastianMeyers, AlanUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationLeidosFederal Highway AdministrationOur Nation's freight transportation system consists of a vast network of roads, railways, navigable channels, and pipelines that connect hundreds of seaports, airports, and intermodal facilities in the movement of raw materials and finished products throughout the country. This report provides practitioners and the public at large with a user-friendly source of information about this vital system, focusing on answering a wide-range of freight-related questions, particularly about how the sector has changed over the past several years. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the extent and usage of freight infrastructure in the United States. Chapter 2 discusses the impacts of this freight transportation system on the economy, environment, and society. Chapter 3 concludes by summarizing key freight trends and providing an overview of policy and funding issues in the sector.82