A Concept for a National Freight Data Program Special Report 276 (2003) / Chapter Skim
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Highlights, Findings and Recommendations
Highlights, Findings and Recommendations
Pages 1-20
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The effectiveness and efficiency of the freight transportation system are heavily dependent on reliable data to inform a range of decisions at all levels of government and in the private sector about economic and infrastructure investments and policy issues. Data on goods movements are needed to identify and evaluate options for mitigating congestion, improve regional and global economic competitiveness, enable effective land use planning, inform investment and policy decisions about modal optimization, enhance transportation safety and security, identify transportation marketing opportunities, and reduce fuel consumption and improve air quality.
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To remedy these deficiencies, a national freight data framework is needed. A concept for a framework to guide the development of a national freight database and related data collection and synthesis activities is proposed in this report.
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economy have highlighted a number of issues relating to freight transportation. Because of the growing importance of global markets and international trade, goods are being transported over longer distances than was the case 20 years ago.
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The most important action item identified by the Saratoga Springs conference sponsors and conferees was to develop a strategic freight data business plan to guide future data collection efforts. This plan "would identify all freight data users and their needs," and on the basis of these needs "a national or international freight data architecture or framework would be developed" (Meyburg and Mbwana 2002, 23)
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The committee recognizes that the implementation of a national freight data framework will require sustained effort and funding over a number of years but believes that important benefits would accrue from streamlining data collection efforts, filling major data gaps, and harmonizing data sources for greater compatibility. FINDINGS Data for Decision Making Finding 1.
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The current disjointed patchwork of freight data sources is costly to generate and maintain but does not provide decision makers with the data they require. To remedy this deficiency, a national freight data frame work is needed to guide the development of a national freight database and related data collection and synthesis activities with the potential to meet users' data requirements.
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Thus, these sources vary considerably in terms of their modal coverage, data collection strategies, and data definitions. The possibility of using these disparate sources to populate a comprehensive national freight database raises concerns about the quality and comparability of the resulting combined data.
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A national freight data framework -- such as that shown schematically in Figure F&R-1 -- that facilitates data fusion and fills data gaps would aid in developing a comprehensive picture of freight flows. Such a picture offers opportunities to enhance the security of goods movement by identifying vulnerabilities.
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BTS data collection programs National freight database Supplemental Data Urban truck surveys, Data synthesis Customs data, DHS data programs, etc. Feedback Private sector, state DOTs, Users carriers, MPOs, other government agencies Figure F&R-1 Proposed framework of a national freight data program.
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In the committee's judgment, a national freight data framework program needs to focus on populating a national freight database that provides robust data to meet basic user requirements. Providing options to enhance the data set for more specialized purposes would be extremely beneficial in meeting a wider range of user needs.
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No single organization by itself has the resources and expertise necessary to develop and implement a national freight data framework. The interest and cooperation of a range of public- and private-sector organizations will be essential to the overall success of the proposed framework initiative.
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In the committee's view, USDOT has the knowledge and expertise needed to lead the development and implementation of a national freight data framework. Furthermore, the ultimate goal of the framework-namely, providing a comprehensive picture of freight flows in the United States -- is consistent with the department's mission of ensuring a transportation system that meets vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people.4 The modal administrations within USDOT are already involved in mode-specific data collection programs for operating and administrative purposes.
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Details of the BTS role will require further investigation as plans are developed for implementing the framework. For example, it could be argued that BTS should assume full responsibility for developing and maintaining a national freight database because of the need for transparency
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USDOT/BTS, under the guidance of the freight data advisory committee, should explore the potential for meeting the needs of freight data users through the implementation of a cost effective national freight data framework. The tasks undertaken are likely to include · Examination of the relative merits of different kinds of surveys (carrier, distributor, shipper, receiver)
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, railroads, transportation-related associations, and the like to build on a national freight database in developing their own data sets. To facilitate the combination of specialized and national data, the framework will need to provide standard survey methodologies and examples of their use, together with recommended best practices for activities such as data collection and processing.
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These user expectations will need to be taken into account in developing and implementing the framework and in populating the national freight database. In particular, a decision by the freight data advisory committee concerning the level of geographic detail to be provided by the national freight database will involve balancing the needs of different users (federal government agencies, state departments of transportation, MPOs, consulting companies, academic researchers, etc.)
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USDOT/BTS should actively encourage the par ticipation of data providers as partners in the development and implementation of the freight data framework by · Explaining clearly why data are being collected and for what purposes they will be used, · Avoiding overly burdensome reporting requirements, and · Respecting the imperative to maintain data confidentiality. New data providers6 will need to see some payoff for supplying data, while current providers will need encouragement to expand the scope of data they supply or adapt to new data collection methods.
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The International Trade Data System (ITDS) project, which seeks to streamline the collection and dissemination of international trade data, may provide helpful insights for implementing the national freight data framework.
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Some form of institutional structure, such as a program office, will be needed to coordinate activities within a national freight data framework program, support the freight data advisory committee, and provide a focal point for the framework initiative. A framework program office would also be responsible for facilitating continuous feedback and refinement of the framework, identifying emerging data collection opportunities and encouraging related research investigations, and ensuring the sustainability of data collection activities so that the national freight database can be expanded and updated.
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2002. The Freight Story: A National Perspective on Enhancing Freight Transportation.
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