NTL Record

Title Freight Transportation Petroleum Conservation - Viability Evaluation
Record ID 48630
Personal Name
Creator
Maio, Domenic J.
Source 125p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Publisher United States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Special Programs Administration
Publication Date 19790301
Language English
Abstract This report develops a comprehensive perspective of current and near-term future energy demand in U.S. freight transportation. Synthesis of studies of many agencies indicate that the annual petroleum fuel demand for freight transportation in 1985 will be 5 billion gallons greater than that in 1975, even with a 7 billion gallon a year savings from conservation measures. This represents an increase in freight's share of the U.S. total transportation fuel demand from 23% to 29%, because of continued freight traffic growth and the greater savings potential in passenger systems. Freight transport by rail, by highway and by rail/highway intermodal services receives the most attention in this report because these modes offer the greatest promise for significant fuel savings. Fuel consumption and conservation estimates include both intercity and local truck operations, but intercity operations of the competitive, heavy-duty trucks and general merchandise trains are the primary focus because about 60% of the potential truck fuel savings and virtually all of the rail savings in 1985 are projected to come from intercity operations. Attention is focused on considerations of the transport marketplace supply and demand interactions in the evaluation of alternative government policies for fuel conservation in freight systems. An overall evaluation approach is presented, analytical tools appraised and several government policy alternatives are given a preliminary assessment. The results suggest that the most productive conservation strategies are those that focus on technological and operational improvements within the rail and highway modes having estimated savings of 28% and 18% respectively. Shifts of traffic to intermodal rail services although economically viable may prove counterproductive in certain markets in terms of energy consumption.
Rosap ID dot:10137
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10137
TRT Terms Conservation; Demand; Economic analysis; Energy conservation; Forecasting; Freight transportation; Fuel consumption; Heavy vehicles; Highway transportation; Intermodal services; Intermodal transportation; Interstate transportation; Motor carriers; Petroleum; Policy; Railroad transportation; Regional transportation; Transportation operations; Trucks
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number DOT-TSC-RSPA-79-6
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/48000/48600/48630/DOT-TSC-RSPA-79-06.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository