The conference program is designed to provide the participants with an appreciation of the context of the importance of freight transportation and of the role of analytical tools to describe and predict the impacts of modal trade patterns on the public and private transportation systems.

Conference sessions will provide detailed presentations and discussions of the following:

Freight Modeling: State of the Practice
Improved understanding of the current modeling tools and methods used at various geographies in the public sector and potential uses/benefits of the private carrier demand modeling

Evaluation of Practice Today
Assessment of methodologies and applications in practice today referenced against the needs. The “Freight Model Use Matrix” will be completed to include evaluation of what drives forecasts, sensitivities, data needs, and cost effectiveness of various types of freight forecast models.

Defining Future Needs
Identification of future demands on freight modeling, data sources available, and the current direction of freight modeling research

Emerging Techniques In Development and in Practice
Increased appreciation for new modeling approaches, applications, data needs, relevance to needs in U.S. public sector and effectiveness

New Directions in Freight Demand Modeling: State of the Art
An approach for participants that will help them move from their current efforts in freight modeling to their desired

Conference participants will take an active role in two sets of breakout discussion groups:

• Breakouts: State of the Practice: Identification of issues and potential changes to the state of the practice freight modeling. Identification of potential venues for needed research
• Breakouts: State of the Art—What’s Needed? Identification of a set of ideas for freight modeling that US DOT, research and vendor community can pursue, which considers new approaches, applications, coordination, data, model standards and framework.

The conference will conclude with a high-level freight industry panel to discuss “Where are we Going?” — providing their perspectives on freight industry trends and system needs. A public-sector response panel will address public approaches to freight system needs and to consider implications for freight modeling.