Determining VMT for the processed meat and related industries in southwest Kansas

It is necessary to study the need of utilizing the railroad service to the processed meat and related industries in the southwest Kansas region. In order to achieve this, literature of the current state of practice of the meat processing and related industries, and the transportation modes (trucks, railroad and intermodal) was reviewed apart from the first hand information collected through two site visits, local trade organization visits, and phone interviews with personnel in these businesses in the southwest Kansas region. This led in determining the vehicle miles of travel (VMT) by trucks for transporting goods and products for the processed meat and related industries in the southwest Kansas region.; The research results indicate that there is heavy usage of trucks in this region which needs to be diversified to other modes such as rail or intermodal. The huge numbers of truck VMT also indicate that if the transport mode is not diversified, the current usage would result in adverse affects, such as high maintenance costs for highways and bridges and increasing safety concerns. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...