ATA says trucks now move biggest share of produce, livestock and grain

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The truck is the main mode for transporting grain in the U.S., according to an updated U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report titled “Transportation of U.S. Grains: a Modal Share Analysis”.

All modes showed an increase in absolute tons moved. However, since 1998 rail and barge shares decreased while the trucking share increased, making the truck the predominant mode of transportation for grain movements, transporting 68.4 per cent of all domestic grain movements in the U.S.

“There is a reason that trucks now move the majority of all the major agricultural and food commodities transported in the United States,” said Charles Whittington, chairman of the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference and a vice-chairman of the American Trucking Associations. “Shippers see us as highly efficient, cost effective, and able to provide problem-free service.”

The report covers changes in the competitiveness and relative efficiencies among trucking, rail, and barge–the major transportation modes for grain. The report is posted at www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/tsb/Modal_Share.pdf
AFTC, founded in 1995, is the national organization representing commercial transporters of agricultural commodities, food, forestry and mineral products.

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