This book is designed to acquaint the reader with the US transportation system and the role of its decision makers and users -- a book that is meant to explain the rationale for decisions made by transportation companies, rather than simply describe the system. The chapters cover the theory of the transportation firm (production theory, cost theory and objectives of the firm) and government regulation/assistance, freight users and passengers, the impact of transportation on location (industrial and urban), energy and the environment, intercity freight and passenger carriers (trucks, railroads, pipelines, water carriers, airplanes, bus, automobile and water), urban mass transit and rural transit, and international transportation (water and air). 407 pages with index. - from Amzon