federal transportation officer training

GSA Office of Government-wide Policy

Office of Asset and Transportation Management

Federal Transportation Officer Training

Basic (Level 1)

Session 3 – Modes of Transportation



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



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)



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



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.



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



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



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



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



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



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



Rail Transportation Regulations

• Interstate Commerce Act of 1887

• Hepburn Act

• Staggers Rail Act of 1980

• Railroad Revitalization & Regulatory Reform Act

• Title 45 - Railroads



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



Air Transportation Regulations

Title 14 Aeronautics and Space

49 USC – 40118 Government Financed Air Transportation



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



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



Water Transportation Regulations

• Title 46 – Shipping

• Title 46 – Part 381 Cargo Preference

• Title 19 Section 4.80• Vessels entitled to engage in coastwise trade



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



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



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)



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).



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



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



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



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



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?



Knowledge Review

What is the five modes of transportation?

Air Water Motor Rail Pipeline Pony Express

(Check all that apply)



Knowledge Review

You are correct if your response was:

Air Water Motor Pipeline Rail

CONGRATULATIONS !



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



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

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