FDOT Identification of Prospective Solutions for the Florida Trade Imbalance and Empty Backhauls

The major goal of this proposed research project is to identify the locations in Florida with empty backhauling using Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) data and to also provide recommendations on alternative modes of transportation (i.e. barge, rail, etc.) for specific industries. Florida has high potential for growth to alleviate empty truck backhauling. The specific project objectives include: (1) Review/revise the literature on empty backhauling and coordinate with FDOT districts to identify all current and previous research into Florida empty backhauls. (2) Conduct WIM data analysis to ensure previous studies are up to date. (3) Determine future manufacturing potential through skilled work force data analysis for major industries as highlighted by Enterprise Florida to compare the significance of future change to empty backhauls balance. (4) Hold interviews with industry partners to create recommendations on possible industry partnership solutions to improve their shipping practices such as using alternative modes of transportation (i.e., barge, rail, etc.). (5) Provide recommendations on how truck drivers coming into Florida, bringing goods that are destined for Florida, can find work to leave the state with less-than-truckload (LTL) or truck-load (TL) rather than empty backhauling out of the state.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $239900
• Contract Numbers:

  BDV25 977-72

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Florida Department of Transportation

  605 Suwannee Street
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Managing Organizations:

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Research Center
  605 Suwannee Street MS-30
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Project Managers:

  Fitzgerald, Rickey

• Performing Organizations:

  University of South Florida, Tampa

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  4202 E. Flowler Avenue, ENB 118
  Tampa, FL  United States  33620-5350
• Principal Investigators:

  Ozkul, Seckin

• Start Date: 20200610
• Expected Completion Date: 20220630
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Back haul; Industries; Recommendations; Transportation modes; Trucks; Weigh in motion
• Geographic Terms: Florida
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01742554
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Florida Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: BDV25 977-72
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 17 2020 10:13AM