Short Line Rail: Its Role in Intermodalism and Distribution

does the movement of low-value bulk commodities (Table 4.5). Transportation facilities
and services that handle bulk products tend to be specialized and seldom overlap with
facilities and services for high-value, time-sensitive products. As shown in Figure 4.2,
maritime facilities that serve bulk shipments are concentrated at Gulf Coast and Middle
Atlantic ports while facilities that handle high-value, time-sensitive shipments are
located at ports and airports in major cities and at several border crossings (Figure 4.3).
There are a few ports that handle both high-value, containerized goods and bulk
products. They use separate docks because different handling equipment is required
(FHWA, 2008).
Table 4.5: The Spectrum of Freight Moved in 2002
SOURCE: FHWA, 2008. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and
Operations, Freight Analysis Framework, version 2.2, 2007.
The transportation system was stressed during most of the twentieth century by the
growth in bulk shipments. For example, there were railcar shortages during grain
harvests and port capacity limitations during the coal export boom. While many of the
past stresses were relieved by the deregulation of transportation carriers and changes
in the economy, it is likely the continued growth of bulk movement and new economic
conditions may create new stresses (FHWA, 2008).
Figure 4.2: Top Water Ports by Tonnage: 2006
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