Designated by the US Department of Transportation as a University Transportation Center, CIFTS has a mandate to conduct research, develop curricular programs, and engage in technology transfer through outreach and professional development activities related to its focus on intermodal freight transportation. CIFTS receives funding support from the US Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Department of Transportation and emphasizes work relevant to the public sector. Along these lines, CIFTS focuses its initiatives on freight-related information technology, network evaluation, public risk management, infrastructure analyses, and economic, environmental, and safety impact analyses.