Freight

FREIGHT ADVISORY COUNCIL

The FAC is a group of Iowa-based public and private stakeholders serving as an advisory body to the Iowa DOT on freight mobility policies, programs, and investments. This group was created in 2012 as a forum to assist with understanding the complexities associated with freight movements through education, discussion, and review.

Members representing the agriculture, energy, distribution, logistics, and multimodal transportation industries, as well as local and state government agencies, meet on a quarterly basis to address critical topics cooperatively identified by the FAC Chair and Iowa DOT staff. This guidance allows the Iowa DOT to more effectively guide public investment in the freight transportation system with the ultimate goal of enhancing the competitiveness of Iowa’s business and industry.

Mission

To guide the Iowa DOT in fostering a safe, efficient, and convenient multimodal freight transportation system to enhance the competitiveness of Iowa’s business and industry.

GOAL

Through education, discussion and review, the Freight Advisory Council will assist and advise the Iowa DOT on freight mobility policies, programs, and investments.

Values

  • Open discussion and respect for a variety of interests and opinion.s
  • Commitment to regular participation and other assigned responsibilities.
  • Collaborative decision-making that provides the best end result for Iowa’s freight transportation system and future economic vitality.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include but are not
limited to:

  • Serve as an advisory body to Iowa DOT staff involved in freight mobility activities.
  • Identify obstacles, challenges, and inefficiencies in the current freight transportation system.
  • Proactively identify emerging trends that may impact freight mobility.
  • Provide educational opportunities to stakeholders.
  • Assist in the development of the Iowa DOT’s State Freight Plan, including providing stakeholder input, reviewing draft content, and offering suggestions for improvement.
  • Review and comment on modal plans and the state long-range transportation plan as they relate to freight mobility.
  • Review and comment on proposals for freight policies, programs, and investments.
  • Consult with interested constituents as appropriate.
  • Suggest potential planning initiatives or research topics.
  • Advocate for freight mobility issues.

Organization

  • Meet on a quarterly basis.
  • Meetings will be held at a central Iowa location; one meeting per year may be held at another location of the state.
  • A chair and vice chair will be elected to serve a two-year term and the vice chair will assume the chair position at the end of the chair’s term.
  • Term limits will not apply to general membership; however, if a member or designee is absent for three consecutive meetings, barring extenuating circumstances, their membership will be terminated.
  • Agendas will be cooperatively developed by the chair and Iowa DOT staff.
  • Meeting arrangements will be the responsibility of the Iowa DOT.
  • Iowa DOT will provide other staff support, as needed.

For more information on the Iowa Freight Advisory Council, please contact Sam Hiscocks, Freight Planning Coordinator, at 515-239-1004 or samuel.hiscocks@iowadot.us.





Advisory Committee Membership

Member name Position/Organization
Mike Steenhoek (Chair) Executive Director, Soy Transportation Coalition
Jillian Walsh (Vice Chair) Senior Business Development Manager, Travero
Dr. Haozhe Chen ISU Supply Chain Management
Gabe Claypool President, Des Moines Industrial
Greg Dickinson President, Ten D, Inc. Companies/Merchants Distribution Service
Jackson Doud Grassroots Program Manager, Iowa Farm Bureau
Amy Homan Director of Marketing, Iowa Northern Railroad  
Matthew Leyser Manager of Factory Order Fulfillment, John Deere Des Moines Works
Larry Lloyd Senior Director of US Government Affairs, CPKC Railroad
Doug Martin Assistant General Manager, Amazon DSM5
Joe McConnell Vice President of Transportation, Perishable Distributors of Iowa
Delia Moon-Meier Senior Vice President, Iowa 80 Group
James Niffenegger Director of Fleet Dispatch, Landus Cooperative
Kelli O’Brien Director of Public Affairs for IA, MN, and WI, Union Pacific Railroad
Joe Parsons Chief Operating Officer, Iowa Interstate Railroad
Ty Rosburg Owner/General Manager, Rosburg Livestock
Peter Skosey Executive Director State Government Affairs IL, IA, and WI, BNSF Railway  
Jessica Sargent Logistics Manager, Sukup Manufacturing
Marty Wadle  Chief Commercial Officer, Ruan Transportation Management Systems
Mark White Grain Division Manager, Smith Fertilizer and Grain
Ron White Upper Mississippi River Regional Manager, Artco Fleeting Service
Ex Officio member name Position/Organization
Major Darren Reid Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa State Patrol
Zhi Chen Senior Planner, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Amie Davidson Bureau Chief, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Land Quality Bureau
Andrew Goodall Program Manager, U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers, Rock Island District
Mike Hadley Vice Chair, Keokuk County Board of Supervisors
Mike Harrington Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Sean Litteral Federal Highway Administration, Iowa Division
Scott Marler Director, Iowa DOT
Tim Marshall Federal Highway Administration, Iowa Division
Shirley McGuire Division Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Mike Norris Director, Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission
Andrea Smith Iowa Economic Development Authority
Louis Vander Streek Assistant General Counsel, Iowa Utilities Commission
Colonel Aaron M. Williams Commander, Rock Island District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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