1. Session 3 – Modes of Transportation
Federal Transportation Officer Training
Basic (Level 1)
Session 3 – Modes of Transportation

2. Shipping Facts Weight By Mode - Federal Highway Administration
Tonnage is expected to increase 1.4% annually through 2040

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Rail Transportation Regulations
Interstate Commerce Act of 1887
Hepburn Act
Staggers Rail Act of 1980
Railroad Revitalization & Regulatory Reform Act
Title 45 - Railroads

13. 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
Disadvantages
Cost
Generally used for smaller volumes of cargo
Accessibility – requires intermodal

14. Air Transportation Regulations
Title 14 Aeronautics and Space
49 USC – Government Financed Air Transportation

15. 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

16. 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

17. Water Transportation Regulations
Title 46 – Shipping
Title 46 – Part 381 Cargo Preference
Title 19 Section 4.80
Vessels entitled to engage in coastwise trade

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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)

21. 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).

22. 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

23. Examples of intermodal 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 ship
This combination is an intermodal shipment
Any combination of two or more modes is an intermodal shipment

24. 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

25. 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

26. Best Value
To 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?

27. Knowledge Review What is the five modes of transportation? Air Water
Motor
Rail
Pipeline
Pony Express
(Check all that apply)

28. Knowledge Review You are correct if your response was: Air Water Motor
Pipeline
Rail
CONGRATULATIONS !

29. Glossary of Terms
The following terms are those frequently used in Federal transportation, however this is not an inclusive list of terms. Refer to § and § for additional transportation definitions. For specific transportation mode terms, refer to
U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration website at:
Glossary of Shipping Terms; US DOT MARAD -
Trucking Industry Terms ; IRS.gov -
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 (49 U.S.C , 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

30. Where to Go for More Information
US Department of Transportation
USDOT Maritime Administration
USDOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA):
Federal Railroad Administration
International Air Transport Association
American Trucking Association
GSA Center for Transportation Management
Department of Commerce - Export .GOV
National Motor Freight Traffic Association