SYLLABUS
PDF version of class syllabus here
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Number |
453 (Undergraduate) 553 (Graduate) |
Title |
Freight Transportation and Logistics |
Section |
001 |
CRN(s) |
44732 (Undergraduate) 44733 (Graduate) |
Credits |
4 |
Prerequisite(s) |
CE 351 |
Days/Time |
Mondays and Wednesday 12:00 PM to 1:50 PM |
Location |
EB 510 |
Final Exam Day/Time |
Thursday, March 22 12:30-2:20PM EB510 |
Required Text or Other Materials: |
None - but a reading set will be provided each week on web or handed out in class. |
RESEARCH PAPER ARCHIVE
Archive and instructions for research paper
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Components and performance characteristics of the U.S. freight transportation system, with
emphasis on data needs, planning, design and operation of the entire supply chain.
Discussion of impact of freight on passenger transportation system and economy. Modal
emphasis includes freight rail, motor freight, ocean freight and air freight. Terminal
operations. Roles of public and private actors in freight system.
COURSE STATEMENT
The efficient, timely, and reliable movement of freight is a critical responsibility of the transportation system and strategically important to the U.S. economy. The sheer amount of freight moved last year by all transportation modes in the United States alone is staggering – some 10 trillion dollars of freight. Most of that freight was moved by the highway mode, but rail, water, air and pipeline modes also transport significant amounts of freight. Freight transportation is heterogeneous in nature – meaning various commodities are moved by various modes and carriers over numerous routes – and is almost exclusively the domain of the private sector. The public infrastructure, however, supports much of the freight system. The heterogeneity and private sector involvement present unique challenges for the transportation professional. A working knowledge of freight transportation system is essential to develop long-range transportation plans and projects to improve and enhance the freight system in a particular region. As such, this course focuses on the structure and processes of the freight system, including discussions of each mode and its inherent advantages, cost, and structure. Particular emphasis is placed on how the freight transportation should be addressed in public transportation planning, design and construction teams.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- Understand the scope and operation of all components the national freight transportation system.
- Describe the historical and current regulatory framework of freight transportation.
- Comprehend the opportunities and challenges associated with the intermodal and multimodal nature of present and future transportation systems.
- Understand the availability of data sources for use in planning, research, and design of freight systems.
- Be prepared to be integral players in public transportation planning, design and construction teams.
- Perform individual research, with proper citation of academic sources and communicate results to colleagues and instructor.
LECTURES, PROBLEM SETS, READINGS
| # |
D |
Date |
Topic |
PDFs |
Reading Set |
Problem Set |
Due Dates |
| 1 |
M |
8-Jan |
Introduction, Transportation in the Economy, Research Paper Topics |
 Lec 1 |
1 (link) |
|
|
| 2 |
W |
10-Jan |
Freight Transportation Data Sources |
Lec 2
|
|
HW #1
 Input Output |
22-Jan, Due to weather turn in Monday 1/22 CEE office 5PM
Key |
| 3 |
M |
15-Jan |
No class - Martin Luther King Day |
|
|
|
|
| 4 |
W |
17-Jan |
No class- PSU Closed Weather |
|
|
|
|
| 5 |
M |
22-Jan |
No class - Research Day |
|
2 (see HW) |
|
|
| 6 |
W |
24-Jan |
Guest Lecture - Barry Horowitz, Port of Portland [CANCELED] |
|
|
HW #2
Article |
31-Jan Key |
| 7 |
M |
29-Jan |
Regulation of Freight Transportation, |
Lec 7
Lec 7 |
|
|
|
| 8 |
W |
31-Jan |
Railroads |
|
|
|
|
| 9 |
M |
5-Feb |
Guest Lecture - Bill Burgel, HDR, The Pacific Northwest Freight Rail System - National & Global Implications |
Lec 9 |
|
|
Research Proposal DUE |
| 10 |
W |
7-Feb |
Motor Carriers |
Lec 10
|
|
HW #3
Article |
19-Feb |
| 11 |
M |
12-Feb |
Domestic Water |
Lec 11
|
|
|
|
| 12 |
W |
14-Feb |
Midterm 1 (thru Lecture 10) |
|
|
|
|
| 13 |
M |
19-Feb |
Pipeline, Air |
Lec 13
Lec 13 |
|
|
|
| 14 |
W |
21-Feb |
Ocean |
Lec 14 |
|
|
|
| 15 |
M |
26-Feb |
Cost and Pricing, Routing |
Lec 15 |
|
|
|
| 16 |
W |
28-Feb |
Field Trip - Port of Portland (Toyota) |
|
|
HW # 4 (Counts for 2 - need lecture 17 to do #3) |
16-Mar 5PM
Key |
| 17 |
M |
5-Mar |
Freight Modeling, Public Sector Freight Planning Guest Lecture: Deena Platman, Metro
Introduction to Networks and Economics, |
Lec 17 |
Transhipment Excel |
|
|
| 18 |
W |
7-Mar |
Freight and the Environment, Review and Wrap-up |
|
|
|
|
| 19 |
M |
12-Mar |
Research Paper Presentations |
|
|
|
|
| 20 |
W |
14-Mar |
Research Paper Presentations |
Final Paper DUE 16-Mar 5PM |
| 21 |
M |
22-Mar |
Comprehensive Final Exam: Thursday, March 22 12:30-2:20PM EB510 |
|
