Abstract
The primary focus of this report is on the need for, and performance of, the transportation system in moving agricultural commodities and other products important to rural America, including examinations of issues important to stakeholders. The study provides information on: the importance of freight transportation to agriculture; how freight transportation supports rural America; the transportation of biofuels and coal; modal information on rail, barge, truck, and ocean freight transportation; the sufficiency and performance of rail competition, rates, service, capacity, investment, and rate grievance processes; multimodal and policy issues. (Author/publisher)