Freight

The development of the Freight Network Optimization Tool was authorized by the Minnesota Legislature in 2021 to create an accessible online platform to help users understand ways to increase economic competitiveness, identify market opportunities, improve supply chain performance, reduce bottlenecks, and anticipate the impact of changes in economic conditions or infrastructure improvements. The tool was developed by a team of consultants, with input from MNIT, MnDOT, and MnDEED.

The Freight Network Optimization Tool (FNOT) allows users to:

• analyze and visualize data in the Minnesota intermodal freight network
• run optimization scenarios to explore market demands for new freight facilities or services
• explore optimization scenarios for network improvements
• examine supply chain improvements

We are asking freight professionals to test drive the new prototype tool which can be used to query freight data, measure freight mobility, analyze performance measures, and develop scenario-based business cases using maps and freight data.

CLICK HERE to access FNOT where you will be to create an account and log in.

For Technical Support please submit a technical support request at: https://fnot.dot.state.mn.us/technical-support.

FNOT’s network optimization capabilities allows users to query several freight transportation databases and explore “what if” scenarios for opportunities to:

• Lower shipping costs & increase economic competitiveness
• Identify market opportunities and support projected growth
• Improve supply chain network performance, address constraints & inefficiencies
• Reduce highway congestion, emissions & truck-related crashes, while lessening road maintenance & capital expenditures
• Anticipate impact of changes in economic conditions or new infrastructure investments