Expanding Freight Capacity
The role of government in the provision of freight capacity is complicated by differences in the evolution of the various modes by which freight is moved and by the shifts in the federal role that have occurred over time. Each mode—including marine, highway, rail, pipeline and aviation—is an important component of the freight system, but each has a different history, regulatory regime, and governmental presence. Government is perhaps least involved in pipelines and railroads, which are privately owned and managed. Pipelines move all natural gas and a substantial proportion of petroleum products and hazardous liquids. Railroads move about one-quarter of total freight ton-miles. Private firms own their own track and equipment, and government policy over railroads is exercised mainly through merger policy, safety regulation, and labor protection provisions, some of which date to the 19th century. For trucking, by contrast, the federal and state governments provide the highways, attempt to recoup taxes from carriers to cover the pavement and bridge damages they cause, and regulate safety, emissions, and mergers. Water commerce is perhaps the most complex case because of the long and rich history of maritime trade as a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, the significant role of federal agencies in maintaining and regulating use of the nation’s waterways, the varied roles of state and local governments and private firms in the provision of ports, and the numerous and complex federal and state provisions for environmental protection that apply to port and maritime operations.