NOACA has developed a Multimodal Regional Freight Plan to facilitate goods movement in Northeast Ohio. Trucking will always play a crucial role, however, the U.S. Department of Transportation in its Beyond Traffic report recognizes that the system has significant challenges and that intermodal shipping is projected to be one of the fastest growing sectors. Businesses have different time and cost sensitivities, so supporting all modes of shipping provides the most possible options to meet their needs.

About Freight Movement in Northeast Ohio: 

• The NOACA region generates approximately $162.8 billion in GDP, representing about 20% of Ohio’s economy, and supports more than two million residents, one million workers, 1.4 million jobs, and 309,000 businesses that depend on efficient freight movement.
  
  
• Although the region supports five freight modes—road, rail, air, pipeline, and water, trucking is the predominant mode of freight transport and remains central to local, regional, and national supply chains. Statewide, truck freight is projected to increase 56% by weight and 99% by value by 2050.
  
  
• Approximately 20% of truck VMT is generated by trucks traveling through the region. This share is projected to increase by about one-third by 2050, placing additional pressure on regional infrastructure.
  
  
• Approximately 68% of truck VMT currently occurs on Interstate highways, increasing to about 70% by 2050. Large combination trucks are projected to increase from 50% to 54% of truck VMT.
  
  
• Truck Travel Time Reliability is forecasted to remain stable between 2025 and 2050.
  
  
• There are currently around 47 truck parking spaces per 100,000 daily VMT. This is expected to increase to nearly 68 spaces in 2050.
  
  
• In 2024, there were 2,371 crashes involving trucks (9.8% of all crashes), including 10 fatalities and 34 serious injuries. While truck crashes are a smaller share of total crashes, their severity highlights the importance of targeted safety improvements.

What is NOACA Doing to Help? 

• NOACA has developed a Freight Plan to benefit the Northeast Ohio region. 

• NOACA is engaging stakeholders from the freight community – including truckers, shippers, ports, advocacy groups and more – to gather opinions on needs and wants. 

• NOACA will advocate that funding at all levels and sources should prioritize maintenance and allow for flexibility on a wide variety of projects. Businesses have different time and cost sensitivities, so supporting all modes of shipping provides the most possible options.   

• NOACA will prioritize projects along heavily traveled and congested freight routes and direct funding in a way that facilitates growth in the industries that will employ more of the region’s residents. 

• NOACA will encourage local communities to support projects that make all modes of freight movement viable. 

How Does Freight Planning Support Regional Goals? 

• STRENGTHEN Regional Cohesion: Freight flows into, out of and through all political jurisdictions, meaning communities must work together to ensure the efficient movement of goods.  

• PRESERVE Existing Infrastructure: A 2011 freight stakeholder survey administered by NOACA rated poor roadway conditions as a top concern for the ability to efficiently move goods.  Further, the heavy weight of tractor-trailers causes a disproportionate amount of road damage.

• BUILD a Sustainable Multimodal Transportation System: Different businesses have different shipping needs, so it is important that the region have access to all forms of goods movement. Additionally, safety, security and resilience call for different modes of shipping to be readily available to ensure efficient movement in the face of disaster.

• SUPPORT Economic Development: A robust system allows businesses to easily receive materials and deliver finished products and enables consumers to have easy access to these products.

• ENHANCE Quality of Life: Moving freight, mainly by truck, creates high amounts of pollutants. Reducing pollutants creates healthier communities.

Questions or Comments? Contact us by email or by phone at (216) 241-2414.