Quetica conducted an energizing training session on November 20th at the McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota, where participants got a hands-on look at the Freight Network Optimization Tool (FNOT) — a groundbreaking resource poised to reshape how freight movement is planned and optimized across Minnesota.
During the interactive session, attendees:
- Experienced a live demo of the prototype tool
- Explored the tool’s features
- Worked through real-world scenarios to see how FNOT can inform strategic decision-making
- Learned about the State’s vision and next steps for the Tool
Built through a partnership between Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Minnesota IT Services (MNIT), and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (MnDEED), FNOT was initiated by the Minnesota Legislature in 2021 with a bold vision to:
- Improve transportation and supply chain efficiency
- Identify and ease freight bottlenecks
- Generate strategic insights that strengthen economic development
The resulting application is a powerful online resource enabling public and private sector users to:
- Visualize and analyze freight data
- Run optimization scenarios
- Explore market demands for new freight facilities, services, and supply chain improvements
Best of all, it’s completely free and open to the public — ready for anyone to explore and put to work.
A huge thank-you to everyone who joined us for the FNOT training event. Your engagement made the session a success and helped showcase how this tool supports the future of freight in Minnesota. We look forward to hearing feedback from all users.