The Department of Transportation has plans for a national freight transportation policy aimed at increasing freight capacity, reducing congestion and regulatory barriers, and protecting the environment, reports the Journal of Commerce.

This marks the first time the agency has outlined a policy strictly for freight transportation. Its overall goal will be to ensure freight transportation that is efficient, reliable, safe, and secure, said an agency official.

Among the objectives: improve the operations of the existing freight transportation system; add physical capacity where it makes the most economic sense to do so; and reduce regulatory and institutional barriers to improve transportation performance.