A Freight Shuttle System (FSS) has been developed by Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and Freight Shuttle International.  Assistant Agency Director, Stephen S. Roop, Ph.D, presented their plan to the San Antonio Transportation Association at the March luncheon I attended.  Dr. Roop was very informative and had an abundance of valuable information to share. 

TTI has a solution for the "high-volume traffic between two points located less than 600 miles apart."  FSS uses a magnetic field to propel trailers and containers along a path using two driverless transporters per unit.  This technology is similar to that used in a ceiling fan.  If you take out the apparatus that turns the fan and lay it in a straight line, that is the concept of the guideway.  Trailers are placed on a rotating cargo bay by having a tractor back up to load or unload onto the guideway.  The guideway is then straightened and a magnet draws the trailer into place between the transporters.  Intermittent stations would be provided for emergency purposes.  In order to maximize the efficiency of the shuttle system, it would have to be non-stop and non-divertible.

TTI has exercised environmental considerations to water and air standards, keeping tabs per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).  Elevated guideways are planned to follow partly above various medians of existing highway roads, as well as newly opened Texas toll road SH130, and other rights-of-way.  Minimal environment impact and safety are a high priority for the FSS.  Guideway motors will be powered by electricity and will not be adding to the existing pollution of normal highway traffic.

No roads will be closed and no drivers inconvenienced by FFS.  The system never interacts with vehicle or pedestrian traffic.  A state of the art overhead construction technique builds the guideway as it moves along the upper level of existing roadway.  It is building itself as it advances.  This completely eliminates the added congestion that comes with new highway construction.  Furthermore, the guideway is planned to be aesthetically pleasing, with a slender structure that would minimally impact the surrounding environment.

Current plans include starting at a central location which has yet to be decided.  Perhaps in the San Antonio/Seguin area, building all the way to Dallas.  Eventually, the guideway would go into Mexico to help alleviate the congestion and pollution in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and Laredo, TX.  It would aim to diminish the congestion caused by border traffic.  A similar plan is on track for El Paso, TX and Juárez, Mexico.

This is a fascinating and forward-thinking concept that will change the way the transportation industry operates.  As operating costs and new rules and regulations continue to affect the availability of quality equipment, having an option to over the road transport is also environmentally safe and is certainly something to look forward to.