Mineta introduces freight database

"The smooth flow of freight in the United States and across its borders is vital to our economy," Mineta said. "This underscores the importance of freight movements to the nation's economy by providing government and the private sector with a valuable tool for analyzing the relationship between moving freight and congestion relief."

DOT estimates that the nation's transportation system by 2020 will handle cargo valued at almost $30 trillion, compared with $9 trillion today. Volumes, in tons, will increase by nearly 70% over current levels of 15 billion tons.

The department also said international freight volumes are growing faster than domestic volumes and will almost double by 2020.