Browsing by Author "Fruin, Jerry"
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Item An Analysis of Canadian Rail Movements to the United States Using the 1992 Public Use Waybill Sample(1994-03) Fruin, Jerry; Halbach, DanThe United States and Canada share a common border and have long been each other's major trading partners. Railroads serving the two countries have historically had a common gauge and similar equipment, so cross-border shipments have been common for some types of freight and commodities. The recent passage of NAFTA will further integrate the economies of the United States and Canada along with that of Mexico. (Mexico also has a common gauge and a potential for a vast increase in rail traffic movements to and from both countries to its north.) This paper demonstrates a method to analyze rail traffic from Canada to the United States using the 1992 ICC Public Use Waybill Sample. This procedure will be useful to track changes in trade flows by rail between the two countries and in analyzing critical rail infrastructure needs critical for increased trade on both sides of the border (and eventually to and from Mexico).Item An Analysis of the Public and Private Transportation Costs of a Rural Agricultural Area(1992-01) Fruin, Jerry; Halbach, DanThe objective of this study was to develop a computer simulation model to determine the types and amounts of transportation costs in a rural agricultural area under the conditions existing in 1989. Then different assumptions about the road infrastructure could be made and corresponding changes made to the model. The simulation model would be rerun for each set of assumptions and the results analyzed to determine how the different costs change with different infrastructures. This unique approach considers both the public costs such as the maintenance and construction costs paid by tax payers and user fees and the private costs, which are the costs incurred by individuals and firms operating vehicles over the road systems as they travel or move goods.Item Barge Movements on the Upper Mississippi River: Trends and Projections 1963-2002(1994-08) Fruin, Jerry; Halbach, DanThe volume of commodities moved by barge on the upper Mississippi River had nearly 50 years of uninterrupted growth after the completion of the locks and dams.and the nine foot channel system in the 1930s. This upward trend accelerated after towboats were switched from steam to diesel electric power in 1950s. Figure 1 shows the yearly total tonnage of barge shipments and receipts in the Twin Cities area for the 30 years from 1963-1992. Note, however, that volumes peaked in 1983 and 1984 and were followed by unprecedented declines in the late 80s. Annual movements in 1985 and later were sometimes less than 2/3 that of the peak. The remainder of this paper will review recent trends and identify contributing and/or confounding factors that should help answer these questions.Item Barge Traffic on the Illinois and Missouri Rivers: 1972-1992(1994-10) Fruin, Jerry; Halbach, DanThis paper reviews the traffic volumes and changes in traffic volumes, destinations, and commodity mixes on the Illinois and Missouri Rivers. The time period reviewed is 1972 to 1992. This time period starts before the large increases in grain exports in the mid-1970s and goes through 1992, the last year for which the complete data series was published. Note that 1993 was a year of major floods and barge traffic volumes were atypical in 1993. Data were obtained from the annual publication Waterborne Commerce of the United States. The Illinois River data series includes the Illinois River from its mouth on the Mississippi at Grafton, Illinois to Lockport, Illinois (Figure 1). The Missouri River data series includes the Missouri River from Fort Benton, Montana to its mouth on the Mississippi River (Figure 2). Virtually all of the Missouri River traffic occurs in the lower 735 miles, i.e., below Sioux City, Iowa, with the vast majority of the traffic occurring in the lowest 375 miles, i.e., Kansas City and below.Item Guide to Agricultural Resources and Demographic Characteristics of the Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by Oblast(Minnesota Department of Transportation, 1995-06) Fruin, Jerry; Halbach, DanielWith its enormous size and great diversity, the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (FUSSR) is an important player in the world grain and oilseed markets. The lack of data about FUSSR, though, poses some obstacles in understanding the impact on world trade. In this study, researchers gathered unique statistics about FUSSR's crop areas and output. In addition, they developed a methodology to estimate the surplus or deficit of the feed quantity produced for the livestock population by FUSSR's administrative units, or oblasts. The research looked at estimating the size of the FUSSR's demand for imported feedstuffs and its probable sources and transportation routes. It also forecasted what a reformed FUSSR agriculture would look like after changing cropping patterns and applying technology. The report organizes the findings by oblast and republic and details the following information for each oblast: area in square miles; the km of railroad; the km for two types of highways; a distance matrix between the major population centers by road; population statistics; estimated animal feed protein surplus/deficiency; calorie surplus/deficiency, and soybean equivalent to meet the protein requirements; area sown for winter wheat, spring wheat, rye, com for grain, barley, oats, potatoes, flax, sugar beets, and sunflower; and output for winter wheat, spring wheat, rye, corn for grain, barley, oats, eggs, poultry, mutton and goat, pork, beef and veal.Item A Guide to Transportation Modeling Using TRANPLAN for Computer Simulation of Strategies for Managing the Rural Road Infrastructure(1991-06) Halbach, Walter; Fruin, JerryThe objective of this paper is to provide a starting point for those interested in using transportation modeling software in a rural road setting. An example problem will be offered, and the package that it will be demonstrated in is TRANPLAN Version 6.20 ( The Urban Analysis Group, Danville CA ). It is assumed that the reader has a basic previous understanding of microcomputer hardware, software and operating systems. With this purpose in mind, this paper will also provide example code from TRANPLAN to illustrate various parts of the analysis process. Essentially this paper is a companion guide to the various sections of the TRANPLAN manual. Because of the applied nature of this task, only cursory discussion will be expended on the development of theory. References to several articles will be made instead. The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied. Reference to a trade or company name is for specific information only and does not imply approval or recommendation of the company or the product by the researchers, their institutions, or the granting agencies, to the exclusion of others that may be suitable for a specific product application.Item Harvesting and handling the 1979 crop under unusual fall conditions: a special report to Minnesota crop growers, September 7, 1979(University of Minnesota, Agricultural Extension Service., 1979-09-07) Seeley, Mark W.; Hicks, D.R.; Strand, Oliver E.; Hardman, L.L.; Martin, Neal P.; Smith, Larry H.; Bauder, Jim; Fruin, Jerry; Benson, FredItem The Importance of Barge Transportation for America's Agriculture(1995-02) Fruin, JerryThis paper argues that a "well-maintained inland waterway system and a healthy shallow draft barge industry is vital to the well-being of the agriculture in the U.S. Midwest."Item Minnesota barley, oats, sunflower, flax, and rye movements 1979(University of Minnesota. Agricultural Extension Service, 1982-05) Alley, J. Mike; Fruin, Jerry; Eldridge, ChuckItem Minnesota corn movements 1979(University of Minnesota. Agricultural Extension Service, 1982-03) Alley, J. Mike; Fruin, Jerry; Eldridge, ChuckItem Minnesota grain movements in the seventies: changing trends(University of Minnesota. Agricultural Extension Service, 1982-05) Alley, J. Mike; Fruin, Jerry; Eldridge, ChuckItem Minnesota Shippers and State Truck Size/Weight Regulations: A Report Submitted to the Minnesota Department of Transportation(University of Minnesota, 1997-04) Fruin, Jerry; Mussell, AlMotor carriers face a number of regulations in carrying on their business. Trucks are typically regulated as to their length, width, height, load (in terms of gross vehicle weight), and axle weight. The purpose of these regulations is to promote public safety and protect the quality of road surfaces. Highway regulations affecting motor carriers are primarily a state-level responsibility in the United States. Minnesota has its own set of truck size and weight regulations as do neighboring states and Canadian provinces. Because states set their own regulations on truck size and weight, the commercial trucking industry measures the appropriateness of Minnesota regulations to a large extent based on their congruence with those in adjacent states. The object of this study is to determine the extent to which major shippers, the clients of commercial motor carriers, feel constrained by truck size and weight regulations in Minnesota and whether their needs are being met.Item Minnesota soybean movements 1979(University of Minnesota. Agricultural Extension Service, 1982-03) Alley, J. Mike; Fruin, Jerry; Eldridge, ChuckItem Minnesota wheat movements 1979(University of Minnesota. Agricultural Extension Service, 1982-03) Alley, J. Mike; Fruin, Jerry; Eldridge, ChuckItem Minnesota's agricultural transportation system: trends and issues(University of Minnesota. Agricultural Extension Service, 1982-05) Fruin, JerryItem Modal Shifts from the Mississippi River and Duluth/Superior to Land Transportation(2004-05-01) Fruin, Jerry; Fortowsky, Keith JProposals to close the Minneapolis Upper Harbor and convert the area to housing, light industry and recreational uses would eliminate the barge movement of commodities to/from the Upper Harbor. Several proposals have assumed that this would also eliminate associated freight movement through this area of Minneapolis. However, there would still be a need to move materials such as sand and gravel, cement, steel products, and other construction materials into Minneapolis, and scrap metals from Minneapolis. Truck movements of grain, fertilizer and other commodities from/to northwest of Minneapolis would be rerouted to downstream harbors. This study estimates the monetary and public externality costs imposed by this 'modal shift' from barge to truck, including haulage costs, differences in fuel consumption, changes in air emissions, highway congestion impacts, highway accident impacts, and changes in highway maintenance requirements. Coefficients from the FHWA Highway Cost Allocation Study (HCAS) are used to monetize the estimated public costs. Results from the most likely scenario indicate an addition of 66,000 truckloads traveling 1.2 million miles in the metro area each year. Increases in transport costs to shippers or customers exceed $4 million annually, while public cost increases estimated with the HCAS coefficients exceed $1 million annually.Item Northwest Minnesota Freight Flow Study(Minnesota Department of Transportation, 1998-09) Braslau, David; Fruin, JerryIn this project, researchers studied the flow of freight in the 12-county northwestern region of Minnesota for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT). This project uses data from C.J. Peterson & Associates, as well as data on agricultural commodities, timber, and Canadian border crossings. This report identifies major commodity flows by origin and destination within and outside of the region and assigns these to a regional highway network using the QRSII model. It presents annual flows by major commodity classification on each highway link, both in weight value shipped, which permits an identification of significant freight corridors within the region. Mn/DOT plans to use this information in targeting investment and maintenance of the region's transportation infrastructure. The study also serves as a prototype for examining freight flows in other regions of the state.Item Planning Transportation Systems for Older Rural Americans(Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1977) Levy, Kevin; Easter, K. William; Jensen, Harald; Fruin, JerryItem Rural freight transportation: new policy initiatives(University of Minnesota. Agricultural Extension Service, 1980) Pickrel, Luther; Fruin, JerryItem Rural Roads, Investment and Disinvestment in a Minnesota County(1992-10) Fruin, Jerry; Halbach, DanAn adequate road system is essential for the economic and social well-being of the U.S. rural population. The typical rural family relies on the road system for essential communication between town and city service centers. Children are bused to school. Farm produce is shipped, farm supplies are delivered, and repair parts, groceries, and household supplies are purchased many times throughout the week. Many vehicles, such as school buses and milk trucks, require year-round accessibility. Many rural families have one or more members who commute to factory or service jobs just as regularly as families who live in the cities. It is neither possible nor desirable for rural families to live in isolation. This paper examines the impact of new vehicle technologies, weights and road uses have on rural roads in comparison with urban roads.