The Freight Transportation and Logistics Committee (AT015) has been one of the driving influences in the TRB freight systems framework. From this Committee, several other task forces have been created and have subsequently realized full committee status. Now the AT015 Committee collaborates closely and has great synergy with other committees (such as Urban Freight, Freight Data, Hazardous Materials, Intermodal, etc.) in dealing with the freight issues in the various areas of logistics. In particular, the freight modeling subcommittee (AT015(1)) has enjoyed a tremendous joint interest from all these committees in promoting advanced modeling. Also, for this reason, we intend to identify liaison members with those committees to enhance collaboration.
Freight and logistics is a vast area vital to the well being of the economy and societal life. It covers the extensive freight distribution system from manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, all the way to retailers. The efficiency of this system determines national competitiveness. This system encompasses carrier fleet operations, (inter) modal transportation (e.g., air, rail, marine, etc.), logistics practices (e.g., demand-driven manufacturing, just-in-time, etc.), public infrastructure development such as freight corridor/terminal development. It also covers rural and urban areas and dealing with energy and environmental protection.
Naturally, best practices and advanced theoretical research remains core in our mission. Research to help us understand performance measures, improved information gathering, and optimization models will help us better utilize and improve the existing infrastructure. The Committee will actively support research to explore technology options to address various issues such as congestion, pollution, and resiliency. The Committee also seeks to broaden the understanding of supply chain issues within TRB membership. It will focus on encouraging discussion and dialogue between users, planners, builders, and owners of our transportation infrastructure. We will do this by issuing annual research priority statements, hosting poster and paper sessions at TRB annual meeting, and by presenting workshops, websites, and forums to improve communication and collaborative efforts.
The Committee will also encourage students to conduct advanced research with stakeholders as a means to bridge academia with practitioners. The best paper award will be considered maybe along with other freight committees.
Values
- Encourage rigorous basic and applied research
- Promoting collaboration between practitioners and researchers
- Assume a broad, integrative role in TRB freight community
- Encourage the participation of stakeholders from both the public and private sectors
- Provide mechanisms for information transfer and exchange
- Encourage consideration of issues that impact the economy, public, the environment and the funding of infrastructure
-Sushant Sharma, Chair Freight Transportation Planning & Logistics Committee