Freight Facts and Needs

We're growing as a nation. For the economy to grow in lockstep, transportation investment is critical.

• The U.S. transportation system moved, on average, 55.5 million tons of freight worth $51.2 billion daily in 2023.
• As the U.S. population expands, the U.S. freight system will be called upon to meet the demands of a larger population. Each person in the U.S. requires the movement of roughly 63 tons of freight annually and the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that by 2040, freight movements across all modes will have to increase by roughly 42 percent.
• Forecasts show that by 2050, 75 percent of U.S. inhabitants will live in metropolitan "megaregions" and 80 percent of population growth will occur there. As a result, more passenger and freight traffic will move into these regions causing increased traffic congestion and loss of productivity that will diminish quality of life in and around megaregions if these changes are not met with proper planning and investment.

See a snapshot of freight system needs in CAGTC's Freight Can't Wait booklet, below.

Illustrating the many freight infrastructure needs across the United States, CAGTC worked with its membership to develop “Freight Can’t Wait,” a snapshot of projects around the country that stand to benefit from federal partnership and investment. The booklet of projects was first released in 2015, updated in 2017, updated in 2019, and now updated again in 2023. Click here to download the full booklet.

Freight and goods movement plays a role in our every day lives, though many of us don't take the time to really consider the impact. In addition to providing the things we need and want to have, the nation's freight infrastructure is key to securing America's economic future and maintaining our competitiveness in world markets. Growth over the last twenty years, improvements in manufacturing processes, and new technology are placing ever-greater strain on the capacity of our goods movement network. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that freight volumes will increase 45 percent by 2045. Will we be prepared to meet that challenge?