Although road transportation is often more expensive than other modes, it is virtually unmatched as a fast means of moving comparatively small amounts of cargo and passengers over short distances. This is one of the main reasons why road transportation is the most widely used mode in Brazil. However, the domination of this mode of transportation is certain to be undermined by several factors, such as enhanced port efficiency, privatization of railroads, and investment in waterways.
Brazilian highways are of modern design.
Practically all the state capitals are linked by paved roads. Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other major cities have modern metropolitan expressways. The federal government has jurisdiction over 35 percent of the paved road system. As the most appropriate method of moving non-perishable cargo over long distances, rail is the second most important transportation mode in Brazil. In 1996, slightly over 20 percent of the nation's cargo, but only one percent of its passenger traffic, were transported by rail.