The trucking industry will continue to dominate domestic freight transportation modes, increasing to 68.2% its share of all freight tonnage moved throughout the U.S. by 2008, according to the American Trucking Assns. (ATA) soon-to-be-releasedU.S. Freight Transportation Forecast to 2014.
"This number represents a gain in market share of 0.8% and keeps trucking squarely in the driver’s seat as the dominant mode of transportation for delivering America’s goods," said ATA chief economist Bob Costello.
The forecast, prepared by Global Insight Inc., projects rail will move 13.4% of domestic tonnage (primarily bulk freight) five years from now and that the volume of freight carried by rail intermodal will be 1.4%. Pipeline will transport 9.3% of freight volume, water passage will move 7.6%, and air deliveries will carry 0.2% of total tonnage.
VP for public affairs Mike Russell told Fleet Owner that the forecast includes data from both industry and government sources, as well as figures of shipments of manufactured goods.
