America’s Freight Transportation Gateways

America’s freight transportation gateways—seaports, airports, and
land border crossings—are vital for U.S. economic growth and
international competitiveness. They are the entry and exit points for
merchandise trade between the United States and countries around the
world. The gateways and the accompanying shipping, railroad, highway,
and aviation systems link the U.S. population, economic sectors, and
businesses to the global marketplace. Each year, U.S. businesses, farms,
manufacturers, and households depend on these transportation facilities
to move large quantities of goods. When freight gateways do not work
well—because of delays, traffic congestion, or service problems—the
timely flow of goods can be impeded, causing economic loss to shippers,
carriers, and households. When gateways work well, however, U.S. businesses thrive and trade with partners around the world, and American
households enjoy access to a wide variety of imported goods.
America’s Freight Transportation Gateways 2009is an update of a
report released in 2004 by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the
Research and Innovative Technology Administration. This current report
is a data profile of the nation’s leading international freight transportation gateways in 2008 and presents summary trend data from 1990. It is
a collection of information that highlights the top 25 freight gateways,
providing the most recent annual information on the movement of goods
through these seaports, airports, and land border crossings (box 1). Additional information on more than 200 gateways that are key points of
entry and exit for U.S. international trade is available on the BTS website
at www.bts.gov.