I have an operating theory that too few Americans think regularly about our transportation system. It flies under our radar because, while far from perfect, we adjust our routines and lifestyles to the system that’s in front of us. If our commutes aren’t disrupted and our travel to key destinations goes smoothly, most of us don’t have a reason to give much thought to the system that underpins every aspect of our lives. 

This is doubly true, in my mind, of our freight system. As the supply chain disruptions during the pandemic underscored, few people think regularly about the enormity and complexity of how goods move to and through our country and world. Sure, we see the trucks, trains, and delivery vehicles in our communities, but rarely do we push beyond that to consider the level of coordination, people power, and effort that goes into moving goods from the farm field to our plate, or from a manufacturer across the globe to a business’s front door. As the director of CTS, I spend most of my time thinking and learning about transportation, yet freight remains a topic I have only scratched the surface of understanding.  

This awareness gap contributes to the challenges we collectively face in building a system that can help the most people thrive. 

Fortunately, in Minnesota and beyond, a large group of dedicated professionals in industry, government agencies, academia, and private life work hard to keep our freight system functioning. Many of these folks partner closely with CTS. For our 2025 theme of Unpacking Freight: From Producers to Front Doors, we’ll be collaborating with those experts to shed light on the ins and outs of how our freight system works, where it might be heading, and what obstacles we need to address as we move into the future. 

We’ve done this work alongside partners for years already. We are the logistical partner of the Minnesota Freight Advisory Committee and for more than a quarter-century have hosted the CTS Freight and Logistics Symposium. U of M researchers have studied many aspects of freight, including: truck driver safety, last-mile delivery, and the effects of different modes and networks on everything from GHG emissions to economic output.

And in 2025, we are looking forward to leaning into those topics and bringing freight to the fore of our work. Minnesota is well situated as a major freight hub. For nearly two centuries we’ve served as a major agricultural exporter. We have a thriving manufacturing base with access to major rail, maritime, roadway, and aviation assets. This foundation offers us an opportunity to continue to build Minnesota as a freight leader. 

As in the past two years with The Future of Mobility and Rural Needs, Statewide Answers, we’ll be guided by our Unpacking Freight theme to hone in on key topics and host events, research, and workshops to further explore the future of freight. We kicked off our theme with a compelling keynote address at our annual research conference from Dr. Anne Goodchild of the University of Washington’s Urban Freight Lab. I learned a great deal from that discussion and I’m eager to continue that learning journey with you throughout 2025. 

—Kyle Shelton, CTS Director