Building Freight Professional 

Capacity in the 21st Century

F P D

Professional Development

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration
Freight Professional Development 

Program Learning Opportunities

Efficient freight movement is a fundamental underpinning of our nation’s 

economic strength. Enabling transportation professionals to improve 

their skills and knowledge to fully integrate freight movement into our 

transportation system’s development and operations is the objective of the 

Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Freight Professional Development 

(FPD) Program.

The FPD Program offers a broad range of professional capacity building

opportunities including courses, workshops, seminars, and peer-to-peer 

exchanges. It provides access to information, resources, and tools that 

improve the understanding of how freight moves across our transportation 

network and how best to enable that movement while minimizing its impacts.

This brochure describes many of the options available in the FPD Program. 

Visit the FPD Web site at www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd and begin to take 

advantage of the opportunities the FPD Program provides.
National Highway Institute (NHI) 

Training Courses

The FPD Program partners with the NHI to develop and 

deliver freight-related courses. Both instructor-led and Webbased training are available. Visit the NHI Web site at 

www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov for a complete list of course offerings 

and dates.

Integrating Freight in the Transportation Planning 

Process

NHI-139006 (Web based)

This six-hour course provides information on freight transportation dynamics, identifies key stakeholders, and discusses issues that affect the integration of freight with the 

transportation planning process. Freight transportation 

issues can be complex and involve many different stakeholders, all of whom have different perspectives on the transportation system. A challenge faced by many public-sector 

transportation planners is how to best incorporate these 

freight perspectives into the transportation planning process 

in a way that results in a safe and efficient transportation 

system for both people and goods. 

Target Audience 

Transportation planners from State DOTs, MPOs, local 

governments, and Federal agencies.

Outcomes

After completion of this course, participants will be able to: 

n Describe freight transportation dynamics and their effect 

on the transportation system and communities.

n Explain the role of various freight transportation modes.

n Identify freight transportation stakeholders.

n Identify ways to bring freight moves fully into the transportation planning process.

n Identify key resources that will help guide statewide and 

metropolitan freight planning efforts.

Advanced Freight Planning

NHI-139003 (instructor led)

This two-day course expands on topics covered in Integrating Freight in the Transportation Planning Process and 

presents techniques and strategies for planning, programming, and implementing freight transportation projects and 

plans. It also highlights noteworthy examples to illustrate 

the range of freight-related projects. The course focuses 

heavily on resources, solutions, and the application of those 

solutions to develop plans and programs for both public- and 

private-sector agencies. 

Target Audience 

Transportation planners from State DOTs, MPOs, local 

jurisdictions, Federal agencies, and the private sector. 

Outcomes 

Upon the completion of the course, participants will be able 

to:

n Discuss freight transportation needs by major industry 

sector.

n Describe the role of the transportation system in supporting economic competitiveness.

n Identify the economic drivers that influence private-sector 

freight transportation decisions.

n Discuss how private-sector needs can inform public-sector 

performance measures.

n Describe methods for identifying and prioritizing freight 

projects

n Discuss the benefits of engaging private-sector stakeholders 

in project identification. 

n List potential funding mechanisms for freight projects.

n Understand how best to integrate private-sector considerations into the transportation planning process.

Prerequisite 

Participants must successfully complete Integrating Freight 

in the Transportation Planning Process.

Uses of Multimodal Freight Forecasting in Transportation Planning

NHI-139002 (instructor led)

This three-day course provides an overview of freight forecasting and describes different forecasting techniques for 

meeting facility-specific, metropolitan, and statewide needs. 

The course addresses questions transportation planners 

commonly ask regarding freight planning, demonstrates the 

use and value of various forecasting techniques, and reviews 

notable practices and techniques used by MPOs and State 

DOTs.

Forecasting freight traffic is a complex task. It requires an 

understanding of many factors, including economic trends, 

the distribution of traffic, decisions made by freight shippers, 

and the operational characteristics of freight carriers. Freight 

forecasting uses different data sources and analytical tools 

than those used in forecasting passenger travel.
Target Audience 

Transportation planners and staff involved in forecasting 

from State DOTs, MPOs, local governments, Federal agencies, and port authorities.

Outcomes 

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

n Discuss the key parameters that influence economic growth 

and the distribution of freight traffic.

n Identify publicly and privately available freight data sources 

and understand their strengths and limitations as they 

relate to freight forecasting and planning.

n Discuss freight’s effects on travel demand forecasts.

n Discuss the roles of freight transportation modes, intermodal terminals, and other facilities on local traffic.

Linking Freight with Planning and the Environment 

NHI-139005 (instructor led)

This two-day course teaches participants how to integrate 

freight-related and environmental considerations into project 

planning, programming, and development. The course is 

organized around the phases of transportation planning and 

programming, such as needs identification, plan development, project programming, project development, and 

project implementation. The course uses case studies and 

hands-on exercises to illustrate a range of options for integrating environmental considerations in each phase. 

Target Audience

Transportation, environmental, and freight planners and engineers from State DOTs, MPOs, local jurisdictions, Federal 

agencies, port authorities, and shippers, carriers, and other 

private sector stakeholders.

Outcomes 

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

n List potential transportation improvement projects that 

balance freight mobility with community and environmental considerations.

n Identify strategies that balance statewide, regional, and 

metropolitan freight mobility needs with community and 

environmental goals.

n Incorporate freight-related and environmental considerations into transportation projects, programs, and policies.

n Locate available resources and tools to integrate freightrelated and environmental considerations.

Principles of Effective Commercial Vehicle Size and 

Weight Enforcement

NHI-139004 (instructor led)

This two-day course provides in-depth information on 

Federal commercial motor vehicle size and weight regulations, writing and evaluating State Enforcement Plans and 

Annual Certifications, and new and innovative enforcement 

technologies. It also discusses the importance of state-level 

enforcement programs in protecting the integrity of highway 

infrastructure and enhancing the safety of the roadway. The 

course highlights best practices and identifies skills and abilities needed to improve state enforcement programs.

Target Audience 

State DOT staff involved in commercial vehicle size and 

weight enforcement, MPO and city planners who deal with 

size and weight issues, law enforcement agency staff, trucking 

association officials, trucking company managers, and Federal 

agency staff.

Outcomes 

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

n Discuss the history and background of Federal vehicle size 

and weight laws and enforcement program.

n Explain the relationship between vehicle size and weight 

and infrastructure damage.

n Describe the role of State and local officials in conducting 

and coordinating size and weight enforcement activities.

n Discuss current issues, trends, and technologies related to 

size and weight enforcement.

n Apply Federal size and weight laws.

n Prepare an effective State Enforcement Plan and Annual 

Certification.

NHI Certificate of Accomplishment

NHI offers a Certificate of Accomplishment in Freight 

Management and Operations to recognize individuals who 

have completed and achieved a passing grade in freight-related courses. When bundled together, these complementary 

NHI courses enhance an individual’s depth and breadth of 

knowledge and expertise in the area of freight transportation.

Integrating Freight in the Transportation Planning Process

(NHI-139006) 

Advanced Freight Planning 

(NHI-139003) 

Uses of Multimodal Freight Forecasting in 

Transportation Planning

(NHI-139002)

Linking Freight with Planning and the Environment

(NHI-139005)

Contacts for All NHI Courses 

NHI, 703-235-0534, nhitraining@dot.gov
FHWA Workshops (scheduled by request)

Engaging the Private Sector in Freight Planning

This one-day workshop focuses on establishing and sustaining relationships with key private-sector stakeholders. It 

reviews strategies and techniques to initiate private-public 

sector cooperation, identifies key private-sector stakeholders, 

and suggests ways to improve and sustain communication. 

Successful approaches employed at several State DOTs and 

MPOs are discussed.

Private-sector stakeholders are a valuable resource in statewide and metropolitan planning. Their involvement can 

help identify regional, statewide, and multijurisdictional 

challenges and inform transportation programming and 

investment decisions by local and state decision-makers.

Target Audience 

Staff from State DOTs, MPOs, local jurisdictions, and economic development agencies.

Contact 

FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations, 

202-366-9210, freightfeedback@dot.gov

Financing Freight Improvements

This twelve-hour workshop provides information on funding 

and financing multimodal freight improvement projects. It 

also presents examples of successful freight project financing 

by state DOTs, MPOs, local agencies, and the private sector. 

The workshop uses the FHWA handbook, Financing Freight 

Improvements, as a teaching tool.

Target Audience 

Transportation planners and finance staff from State DOTs, 

MPOs, cites and counties, economic development agencies, 

Federal agencies, port authorities, and the private sector.

Contact 

FHWA, Office of Freight Management and Operations, 

202-366-9210, freightfeedback@dot.gov

Other Learning Opportunities

Talking Freight Seminars

These monthly seminars provide a convenient and no-cost 

way for transportation professionals to learn about the latest 

trends, issues, tools, and noteworthy practices in freight 

transportation. Through the use of Web conferencing, participants can view the speaker’s presentation on their personal computer and hear the audio portion of the presentation by dialing into the assigned teleconference number. 

This format allows for extensive participation by freight 

stakeholders from across the country. Each seminar lasts 90 

minutes, with 60 minutes allocated for presentations and 

30 minutes for audience Q&As. Visit the Talking 

Freight Web site at www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/

talking_freight.htm to register for a seminar, get details 

about upcoming topics, or listen to past seminars.

Contact 

FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations, 

202-366-9210, freightfeedback@dot.gov

Freight Transportation Industry Internship Program

This program helps public-sector transportation professionals 

gain a better understanding of issues facing local businesses 

and industries, opens up lines of communication, and builds 

relationships with the private sector. Through the program, 

participants work with their counterparts in several industries 

for one to two months. This experience enables participants to 

improve their knowledge of local freight transportation needs, 

challenges, and factors that influence private-sector decision 

making. 

Contact 

FHWA, Office of Freight Mangement and Operations, 

202-366-9210, freightfeedback@dot.gov
Other Learning Opportunities

(cont’d)

Freight Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Program

Freight P2P facilitates information sharing between 

public-sector freight transportation professionals and 

provides customized technical assistance, on an as-needed 

basis, on a wide variety of freight issues related to planning 

and operations. P2P Web site visitors may request peer 

work sessions and roundtable discussions. 

The peer work sessions are “roll-up-your-sleeves” workshops that offer State DOTs, MPOs, or individuals an 

opportunity to work with a technical expert one-on-one to 

develop specific skills or to address particular challenges. 

Peer roundtables are panel discussions composed of peers 

who promote and support innovative solutions to freight 

challenges and issues of regional and/or national interest 

rather than specific agency needs. Visit the P2P Program 

Web site at www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/p2p for 

more information.

Contact

FHWA, Office of Freight Management and Operations, 

1-866-727-3492, select option 4; 

FreightPeerExchange@dot.gov

Freight Planning LISTSERV

The Freight Planning LISTSERV provides a venue for 

public- and private-sector freight transportation professionals to exchange information on innovative and bestcase practices in freight planning in metropolitan areas 

and states. The LISTSERV has more than 700 subscribers 

from State DOTs, MPOs, professional associations, businesses, the academic community, and other organizations. 

Visit the Freight Planning LISTSERV at http://listserv.utk.

edu/archives/fhwafp.html.

Contact

FHWA, Office of Freight Management and Operations, 

202-366-9210, FHWAFP@listserv.utk.edu

Technical Assistance

Highway Freight Logistics Reorganization Benefits 

Estimation Tool

FHWA’s Estimation Tool enables transportation planners and others to more accurately measure the long-term 

benefits of proposed highway projects. Long-term benefits 

typically are associated with business reorganization that 

takes place because of improved transportation. These 

include serving a larger market area with existing distribution facilities or holding less inventory. Through the use 

of a spreadsheet model, users can input specific project 

information, such as estimated truck volumes and the 

characteristics of freight shipments, and the model will 

calculate the freight reorganization benefits associated with 

a highway improvement. The Tool is available at www.

ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/econ_methods.

htm.

National Transportation Library (NTL)

NTL provides online access to documents and databases 

that cover all aspects of transportation. These materials support transportation policy, research, operations, 

and technology transfer activities and decision making. 

Visit the NTL Web site at www.ntl.bts.gov for more 

information or to contact reference staff for assistance 

via “Ask-A-Librarian.”

Freight Analysis Framework (FAF)

FAF estimates the tonnage and value of goods shipped 

by type of commodity and mode of transportation 

among states, regions, and international trade gateways. 

These data are available for 2002 (base year), with provisional estimates for last year and forecasts for 2010 and 

2035. FAF is based primarily on Economic Census data 

that are collected every five years. Visit the FAF Web 

site at www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/faf 

for more information.

Quick Response Freight Manual II

The updated Manual provides background information 

on freight transportation, helps planners locate available 

data, and shows them how to apply this information to 

develop forecasts for specific facilities. The Manual also 

provides simple techniques and transferable parameters 

that can be used to create freight-vehicle trip tables. 

Visit www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/qrfm2/

index.htm to view this resource.

Eisenhower Freight and Transportation Logistics Scholarship

FHWA offers tuition assistance for transportation 

logistics courses and seminars at accredited U.S. institutions of higher education. The program objective is to 

improve knowledge and advance transportation professional capacity across all modes. Applicants must be 

employed by a state or local public-sector entity in the 

transportation field. Visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/opd/

universitygrants.htm for more information. 

Contact

FHWA, Office of Professional and Corporate Development, 

University Grants Program, 703-235-5000, 

freightfeedback@dot.gov

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration

Office of Freight Management and Operations

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

Phone: 202-366-9210

Fax: 202-366-3225

Web site: www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight

April 2009

FHWA-HOP-09-020