Southeast Michigan Freight Plan

SEMCOG is developing the first Regional Freight Plan for Southeast Michigan. This plan will study the region’s freight system and goods movement, creating a proactive framework to address current and future freight needs and challenges in Southeast Michigan.

The Regional Freight Plan is a multi-year effort guided by the Southeast Michigan Freight Task Force, which includes appointed and elected officials in Southeast Michigan along with key public and private sector stakeholders. Get involved and stay informed in the process by going to the Southeast Michigan Freight Plan Hub site.

Southeast Michigan’s geographical position, existing transportation infrastructure, and economic base combine to form an integral gateway to Canada, the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway, Chicago, the Midwest, Mexico, and the world. This system is important to the growth and health of Southeast Michigan’s regional economy. If freight movement becomes unreliable or inefficient, the cost of doing business increases, which then threatens jobs and changes the business climate in Southeast Michigan. Sustaining a careful balance between community needs and freight needs is essential.

A cargo ship travels along the Detroit River near the Ambassador Bridge, with the cityscape and shoreline in the background.

freight planning

SEMCOG integrates freight system planning into its regional transportation planning process. It emphasizes maintaining a freight system inventory and evaluating its condition, operation, and safety. Because freight movement is a core component of regional economic activity, SEMCOG strives to incorporate market-based perspectives on how well the regional freight system is currently serving the needs of businesses and what investments in the regional freight system will be needed to support and enhance the regional economy.

SEMCOG’s Freight and Economic Analysis Report links Southeast Michigan’s freight transportation with economic development, drawing connections by:

  • describing regional freight flow patterns,
  • including perspectives of businesses that use the freight system,
  • highlighting profiles of industry freight transportation needs,
  • developing analysis tools, and
  • providing guidance for regional transportation planning.

Freight planning documents:

2017 commercial vehicle survey

2017 Commercial Vehicle Survey

In 2017, SEMCOG partnered with ETC Institute to conduct a travel survey of commercial vehicles in the Southeast Michigan, including the counties of Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne.

The purpose of the survey is to better understand how commercial vehicles of varying size and business type affect travel and traffic patterns in the SEMCOG region. As part of this survey, SEMCOG formed a Commercial Vehicle Survey Advisory Committee to will help shape the survey design, guide outreach to survey participants, and review survey results. 

SEMCOG Commercial Vehicle Survey project overview (PDF, 750KB)

As a regional planning agency, SEMCOG evaluates the regional transportation system, assesses future transportation needs, and directs investment towards projects that help achieve regional condition, safety, and operational goals. As the center of the U.S. automobile manufacturing industry, goods movement is of particular importance to sustaining regional prosperity and quality of life.

additional resources

Additional Resources