Trucks and Federal Policy
RFF Workshop
Energy Use and Policy in the Trucking Sector
October 10, 2012
Arthur Rypinski
U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of the Secretary (OST/P-33)
Trucks are part of a freight system….
With multiple elements, diverse actors
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Vehicles and infrastructure;
Capital goods suppliers;
Operators and customers;
Public and private;
Federal, State, and Local Governments;
Large firms and individual owner-operators;
Multiple forms of regulation.
U.S. Freight Shipments by Mode, 1980 - 2009
(Million Ton-Miles)
5,000,000
4,500,000
Total Shipments
4,000,000
Million Ton-Miles
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
Rail
1,500,000
Truck
1,000,000
Marine
500,000
Pipeline
0
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
Source: USDOT/BTS, NTS Table 1-50
Freight ton-miles have grown more slowly than
U.S. economy, truck ton-miles more rapidly…
5%
Annual Growth Rates in U.S.
Freight Ton-Miles by Mode,
1980-2009
4%
Modal Share of Freight TonMiles, 2009
Pipeline
21%
3%
Air
0%
Truck
31%
2%
1%
0%
Domestic
Marine
11%
-1%
-2%
-3%
-4%
SOURCE: DOT/BTS, NTS, Table 1-50
Rail
37%
Source: DOT/BTS, NTS Table 1-50
The Role of Trucks
• Trucks account for 71 percent of the value of freight
shipments ($8.3 trillion) in 2007 (2007 CFS).
• Trucks dominate some markets, compete in others,
play minor or temporary role in yet others.
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Intercity
Local delivery
“Vocational”
Bulk commodities
• Dynamic and rapidly evolving economy favors trucks—
stable economy favors optimization.
Trucks are premium transportation: fast,
convenient, expensive, fuel intensive
100
90
Freight Revenue per Ton-Mile by Mode,
89.46
2007
(Cents per Ton-Mile)
Estimated National Average Freight
Energy Consumption per Ton-Mile
by Mode, 2009
80
4,000
3,572
70
3,500
60
Btu Per Ton-Mile
3,000
50
40
30
2,000
1,500
1,000
16.54
20
2,500
500
10
2.99
1.83
1.61
0
Air
Truck
Rail
Source: DOT/BTS, NTS, Table 3-21
Barge
Oil
(2004) Pipeline
289
217
Rail
Ship
0
Truck
Source: DOT/BTS, NTS, Tables 2-7, 2-15.
Transportation Policy Issues
• Features of the New Transportation Bill
– National Freight Policy and Freight Corridors;
– Performance Metrics for Highway Systems
– Emphasis on “State of Good Repair”
• Long-Term Developments
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Evolution of domestic containerization;
Evolution of transportation customers (agriculture, energy, containers)
Infrastructure maintenance;
Infrastructure development;
Infrastructure financing methods;
• Hardy Perennials
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Truck size and weight limits
Double trailers
Truck idling;
Alternative fuels infrastructure
Thank-you for your attention!
Questions?