C-TIP technologies that eliminate empty back-haul movements at regional intermodal freight transfer facilities have potential to generate benefits equivalent to eliminating 245,000 personal vehicle trips annually.

In Kansas City, the Cross-Town Improvement Program (C-TIP) was implemented to improve the efficiency of regional freight movement. With approximately 2,350 loads per week generated from approximately 950 cross-town freight movements and 1,400 local deliveries each week, the number of truck trips required exceeded the number of loads moved by a factor of three. These additional trips which included bobtail and chassis repositioning moves were generating little or no revenues for carriers, thus intermodal partners were encouraged to improve efficiency.

Using C-TIP technologies such as Intermodal Move Exchange (IMEX), drivers were able to maximize loaded moves and minimize unloaded moves by coordinating drop-offs, pick-ups, and delivery schedules between rail and trucking. By encouraging a higher percentage of loaded truck trips (which generate more revenue for carriers) and fewer bobtail and empty movements, C-TIP was projected to have the following impacts.