About the Intermodal Freight Transport Committee
The Intermodal Freight Transport Committee oversees the varying aspects of freight transport. Including: air-water, air-rail, air-highway, water-rail, water-highway, rail-highway methods of transport. Its scope of interest encompsses all methods and modes of moving shipments from origin to destination in an international market.
Overview. The Intermodal Freight Transport Committee established in 1984 preceding the Federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The IFTC defines the term "logistics" in international trade. Everything from how many barrels of oil fit into an oil tanker, shipping rates, and transport policies and routes are determined by the IFTC. The committee consists of transportation officials from all over the world including US DOT and several State DOT representatives.
Its mission is to develop and advance research on intermodal freight transportation systems to support informed decisions within the United States and worldwide.
- Activities. IFTC conducts research to improve international shipping and freight systems. Various committees focus on different aspects of freight transport.
- Problems and solutions to freight movement. Focusing on growing commerce regions and how to utilize natural geography to improve freight transportation.
- Freight Data Committee collects, analyzes and maintains data to support research.
- Joint Committee Task Force utilizes collected data to develop intermodal indicators and system performance measures to develop research problem statements.
- Liaison to US DOT is utilized in these committees.
- Research traffic data and conflict with intermodal model systems.
- Educate shareholders as to the importance of intermodal transport systems.
- Publish research to interested organizations, governments and policy makers.