Dive Brief:
- The Port of Houston Authority joined with Freight Shuttle International to explore a new way of shipping cargo, which uses an electric freight car that can travel 500 miles with no interruptions.
- The "Freight Shuttle System" (FSS), developed in part by Texas A&M Transportation Institute, aims to reduce roadway congestion by allowing trucks to travel on an elevated electric "guideway" that runs above existing roads.
- The shuttle can accommodate truck trailers up to 53 feet for domestic intermodal transport and containers and all sizes of ocean shipping containers. Additionally, it can travel at 60 mph and run 24 hours a day, despite weather conditions.
Dive Insight:
The new electric technology may revolutionize dock delivery and transportation, should the project work as described. While trucking is still an important part of the shipping and delivery process, the elimination of some trucks on the roadways can reduce environmental pollution while also allowing for more efficient deliveries.
"The industry cannot thrive without augmenting our existing transportation system and fundamentally changing how we approach freight movement," said Steve Roop, the inventor of the FSS, to American Shipper.
If this innovative freight system proves to be a success, The Port of Houston Authority's efforts can create a ripple effect across similar cities looking to decrease traffic and pollution through a similar method.
