GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Federal Transportation Officer Training
Basic (Level 1)
Session 3 – Modes of Transportation
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Shipping Facts
• Weight By Mode - Federal Highway Administration
• Tonnage is expected to increase 1.4% annually through 2040
Tons (millions)Mode 2007 2010 2040
Total 18879 18313 27484Truck 12778 12490 18503Rail 1900 1776 2353Water 941 860 1263Air, air & truck 13 12 43Multiple modes and mail 1424 1380 2991Pipeline 1507 1494 1818Other & unknown 316 302 514
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Shipping Facts
• Top 3 Water Ports by Containerized Cargo (2010)
– Los Angeles, CA– Long Beach, CA– New York, NY
• Top 3 Airports by Landed Weight All-Cargo (2009)
– Memphis, TN (Memphis International)– Anchorage, AK (Ted Stevens Anchorage International)– Louisville, KY (Louisville International-Standiford Field)
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
What You Will Learn
What will I learn from this lesson• What a transportation mode is• What the different transportation modes are
• Background information that will assist you in
making an informed transportation mode selection
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
What is a Mode?
A mode is a means of transport.
Each mode of transport has a fundamentally different
technological solution for your transportation needs, and
some require a separate environment. Each mode has its
own infrastructure and operations, and often has unique
regulations.
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
What are the Modes of Transportation?
There are 5 modes or methods of transportation. There are Federal transportation regulations that cover all
modes and regulations specific to each mode
• Motor• Rail• Air• Water• Pipeline• Or, it can be Intermodal, a combination of any of the five modes
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Choosing the Correct Mode of Transportation
In order to make an informed decision regarding the mode of transportation a Federal transportation officer needs to know:
• The commodity or cargo being shipped
• Timeline that must be met
• Specific routing requirements
• If the commodity has specific shipping requirements (packing or mode)
• Your Agency policies regarding shipping or transport of the commodity
• Cost constraints
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Mode of Transportation: Motor
Motor transportation is over the road movement of freight
• Dominant mode of shipping in the US
• Is generally a cost-effective method
• Provides flexibility in scheduling and areas served
• Plays a vital role in intermodal shipping
• Motor transportation can cross geographical boundaries
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Motor Transportation Regulations
• Title 49 Transportation• 41 C.F.R. PART 102–117—TRANSPORTATION
MANAGEMENT• 41 C.F.R. PART 102–118—TRANSPORTATION
PAYMENT AND AUDIT• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Who Else is Involved with Motor Transportation?
• National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA)– A non-profit comprised of motor carriers and
transportation companies operating in interstate, intrastate, and foreign commerce
– NMFTA publishes the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC)
– NMFTA assigns the Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) used to identify transportation companies, and publishes the Directory of SCACs
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Mode of Transportation: Rail
Rail transport is a means of delivery of goods by way
of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks• Rail transport is considered to be energy-efficient• Ideal transport for bulk shipping• Specialized rail cars; tankers, auto transport, refrigerated; container• Generally cheaper when shipping long haul • Rail transportation offers the same delivery speed as trucks over
long distances however is limited by track location and scheduling
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Rail Transportation Regulations
• Interstate Commerce Act of 1887
• Hepburn Act
• Staggers Rail Act of 1980
• Railroad Revitalization & Regulatory Reform Act
• Title 45 - Railroads
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Mode of Transportation: Air
Air transportation is considered the mode of travel provided for rapid movement of freight through the air over long distances.
Air transportation provides for - Faster movement of cargo Frequently used when high-value or time sensitive payloads need to
be moved Long distance transport
DisadvantagesCostGenerally used for smaller volumes of cargoAccessibility – requires intermodal
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Air Transportation Regulations
Title 14 Aeronautics and Space
49 USC – 40118 Government Financed Air Transportation
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Mode of Transportation: Water
Water transportation encompasses both Inland Waterway, Domestic and International Ocean Transportation.
• Almost always intermodal shipping• Limited to coastal areas or major inland waterways• Packaging of cargo is paramount to deciding what type of
ship to use– Bulk Carrier– Container Ship– Tanker
• Main advantage is the movement of commodities worldwide
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Mode of Transportation: Water
Some Federal agencies that frequently use this mode of
transportation include U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime
Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, and The State
Department
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Water Transportation Regulations
• Title 46 – Shipping
• Title 46 – Part 381 Cargo Preference
• Title 19 Section 4.80• Vessels entitled to engage in coastwise trade
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Mode of Transportation: Pipeline
The transport of goods through a pipe
• Typically used to transport large volumes of fuels and
chemicals
• Most widely used for petroleum
• Frequently part of an intermodal system
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Mode of Transportation: Pipeline
• Pipeline transportation is regulated by U.S. Department of Transportation,
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
• National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) is a geographic information
system (GIS) created by the U.S. Department of Transportation,
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) in cooperation with other federal and state
governmental agencies and the pipeline industry
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Pipeline Regulations
• Title 49 Parts 190 to 199 Pipelines
• For more information go to the US Department of
Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA)
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Who Else is Involved with the Pipeline System?
Other agencies involved in management of the national pipeline system include but are not limited to:
Whenever new pipe is installed in the ground, workers are protected by requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Facilities including pipeline terminals and tank farms fall under local jurisdiction requirements based on codes published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
The tariffs pipelines charge for the transportation services they provide are overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Intermodal Shipping
Intermodal Shipping is the transportation of freight using multiple shipping modes
• Usually involves using an intermodal container that allows cargo to be readily moved from mode to mode
• Often used for international or overseas cargo shipments• Usually provides cost savings on long haul intra-continental
shipments
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Intermodal Shipping
Examples of intermodal shipments:• Trucks are routinely used to transport cargo to :
– Trains– Planes
– Ships Each combination is an intermodal shipment
• Pipelines transport oil from an oil field to a tanker shipThis combination is an intermodal shipment
• Any combination of two or more modes is an intermodal shipment
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Intermodal Shipping Advantages
Intermodal shipping offers:
Minimized cargo handling,
Potential of improved security,
Reduced risk of damages and losses, and
Often allows freight to reach its destination faster
Consolidation can reduce the cost of the shipment
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Intermodal Shipping Disadvantages
When reviewing logistics of intermodal shipping, you may find disadvantages in using intermodal shipping such as:
Timeline required for shipping and delivery
May add additional transportation costs depending on the number and types of modes required
May require tracking using multiple systems or vendors
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Best ValueTo help you decide which mode and transportation service provider
(TSP) provides the best value to your Agency, ask yourself these questions:
• What is being shipped and how is it packaged?• Will the shipment require a special mode or are you limited in your mode
selection?• Are there time limitations for the shipment?• Is the shipment high value, security risk, hazardous, perishable?• Does your Agency have rules and restrictions for shipping?
– Does the commodity you are shipping fall within these restrictions?• Does your Agency have TSP Contracts or Tenders in place that you are
required to use?• If your Agency does not have contract or tenders in place with TSPs, how are
you planning on shipping? – GSA, another Agency, commercial?
• Are available vendors capable of meeting your shipping requirements?• How has the vendor you selected performed in the past?
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Knowledge Review
What is the five modes of transportation?
Air Water Motor Rail Pipeline Pony Express
(Check all that apply)
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Knowledge Review
You are correct if your response was:
Air Water Motor Pipeline Rail
CONGRATULATIONS !
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Glossary of TermsThe following terms are those frequently used in Federal transportation, however this is not an inclusive list of
terms. Refer to §102-117.25 and §102-118.35 for additional transportation definitions. For specific transportation mode terms, refer to
U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration website at: www.phmsa.dot.gov
Glossary of Shipping Terms; US DOT MARAD - www.marad.dot.gov/documents/Glossary_final.pdf
Trucking Industry Terms ; IRS.gov - http://www.irs.gov/businesses/article/0,,id=170625,00.html
Cargo preference is the legal requirement for all, or a portion of all, ocean-borne cargo to be transported on U.S. flag vessels.
Foreign flag vessel is any vessel of foreign registry including vessels owned by U.S. citizens but registered in a foreign country.
U.S. flag air carrier is an air carrier holding a certificate issued by the United States under 49 U.S.C. 41102 (49 U.S.C. 40118, 48 CFR part 47, subpart 47.4).
U.S. flag vessel is a commercial vessel, registered and operated under the laws of the U.S., owned and operated by U.S. citizens, and used in commercial trade of the United States.
Freight Forwarder: A person that dispatches shipments via common carriers and books or otherwise arranges space for those shipments on behalf of shippers and processes the documentation or performs related activities incident to those shipments
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy
Office of Asset and Transportation Management
Where to Go for More Information
• US Department of Transportation www.dot.gov• USDOT Maritime Administration www.marad.dot.gov/• USDOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA): www.phmsa.dot.gov• Federal Railroad Administration www.fra.dot.gov/• International Air Transport Association www.iata.org• American Trucking Association www.trucking.org• GSA Center for Transportation Management
www.gsa.gov/portal/content/104554• Department of Commerce - Export .GOV
http://export.gov/logistics/index.asp• National Motor Freight Traffic Association www.nmfta.org