Freight models represent the present movement of goods and the predicted future movement of goods. Goods movement results from interactions among shippers, carriers, purchasers, and consumers, and others. Their collective decisions form a linked sequence known as the “supply chain”, which can include part or all of the journey of goods from raw materials to the final consumer product. Freight models also must account for logistical considerations such as warehousing, broader economic trends, regulatory environments, and technological advancements.
Since freight models represent the movement of goods, including their production locations, destinations, routes, and other information, decision-makers can use freight models to inform many types of decisions. These include questions about the economy, truck volumes, goods production, warehouses, and many other areas. The following link has examples of planning questions that freight models can address: