Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:


Pages 43-91

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 43...
... 43 6.1 Introduction Differences in data element definitions hinder the process of (1) combining elements from individual sources into a single dataset; (2)
From page 44...
... 44 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary and so forth) or a traffic volume count (e.g., AADT [annual average daily traffic]
From page 45...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 45 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) • CFS Areas are drawn from a subset of combined statistical areas and metropolitan statistical areas as defined by the Office of Management and Budget.
From page 46...
... 46 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary – 175: Prince Edward Island – 176: New Brunswick – 177: Quebec – 178: Ontario – 179: Manitoba – 180: Saskatchewan – 181: Alberta – 182: British Columbia – 183: Yukon/Northwest Territories – 184: Puerto Rico – 185: Mexico. • Princeton Transportation Network Model number -- This number is used to identify the node to which the waybill movement's origin location is assigned.
From page 47...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 47 6.3.2.2 Changes in Methodology Over Time Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) • Before the 2007 CFS, a survey was conducted to obtain information on shipping status and value of shipments for the auxiliaries.
From page 48...
... 48 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary 6.4 Differences in Commodity Data Elements Keywords: commodity, HS (Harmonized System) code, STCC (Standard Transportation Commodity Codes)
From page 49...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 49 weight is selected to represent the total shipment. Commodities that are part of the shipment but are not the majority weight are not classified.
From page 50...
... 50 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) • Hazardous materials information is not available to the general public, so authorization is needed to obtain data on these commodities.
From page 51...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 51 – UNIQUE SERIAL NUMBER -- To allow for unique identification of waybills, the Association of American Railroads/Railinc assigns a unique, six-digit serial number to all waybills processed. ▪ Hardcopy waybills are assigned serial numbers in the 100,000 to 199,999 range.
From page 52...
... 52 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary – HAZ_ID -- This data element identifies the four-digit hazardous material identification number for a vehicle in transit. These numbers are developed by the United Nations (UN)
From page 53...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 53 of the new Census File to the old is as follows: Bulk (B)
From page 54...
... 54 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary waterway network. Data users are advised to note the following differences in resolution between tables: – CONTAINER -- This data element indicates whether the vessel carries containers (signified by the letter C)
From page 55...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 55 classifies U.S. international trade and transportation data into three primary categories: administrative trade data, carrier-based data, and shipper-based data.
From page 56...
... 56 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary • Sources that report on foreign trade movement origin and destination but exclude the port of entry (e.g., Carload Waybill Sample) 6.5.1.1 Sources that Report on Foreign Trade Movement's Origin and Destination, Including the Port of Entry Foreign Trade Statistics (FTS)
From page 57...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 57 characteristics of data elements in this database that may differ from those in the other data sources include the following: – Geographic scope: ▪ USASTATE -- U.S. states (introduced January 2007)
From page 58...
... 58 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary  4 = Mail (U.S. Postal Service)
From page 59...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 59 ▪ DMS_MODE -- This data element represents the domestic mode of transport from zone of entry to destination zone for imports, and from origin zone to zone of exit port for exports. – Data is reported by value (VALUE)
From page 60...
... 60 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary 6.5.2 Temporal Differences Data users should be aware of temporal differences among and within databases as a result of varying frequency of data collection and changes in the definition of a data element over time. Foreign Trade Statistics (FTS)
From page 61...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 61 Border Crossing/Entry Data • Temporal differences within the Border Crossing/Entry Data include the following: – Data on passenger vehicles and passengers in personal vehicles for the Cape Vincent, NY, ferry are available beginning in 2007. The ferry between Wolfe Island (Canada)
From page 62...
... 62 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary ▪ PIERS forms the basis of foreign waterborne flows in FAF3 with several adjustments, including the following:  Ensuring PIERS total commodity tonnages is consistent with USACE Waterborne tonnages  Ensuring PIERS total commodity dollar valued trades is consistent with FTS totals  Inferring missing data for zip-code-level reporting of shipment originations and destinations within the continental United States and inland mode of transport within the continental United States  Addressing known issues, such as the reporting of origin and destination data in the FTS dataset (i.e., exporting/importing company addresses are reported rather than the actual physical location of the point of departure or arrival of the shipment) ▪ Missing or questionable data were allocated across domestic FAF3 zones in proportion to the distribution of shipment volumes in the 2007 U.S.
From page 63...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 63 – Imports and Exports of Natural Gas (NG) ▪ EIA reports annual movement of liquefied natural gas (LNG)
From page 64...
... 64 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary excluded from this data source, which creates difficulty in making comparisons with other data sources' industry classifications. County Business Patterns • County Business Patterns -- This database covers most North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
From page 65...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 65 Annual Survey of Manufacturers • The Annual Survey of Manufacturers contains varying resolutions of NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) industry classifications for different tables within the data source.
From page 66...
... 66 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary Country and Customs district data for value and quantity are provided on a monthly, year-to-date, and annual basis. ▪ Merchandise Trade Exports -- This data source offers multiple files (12 in all)
From page 67...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 67 Air Carrier Statistics • T-100 Market (All Carriers) – This data table differentiates and reports freight class in four categories using letter codes: ▪ F -- Scheduled passenger/cargo service ▪ G -- Scheduled all cargo service ▪ L -- Non-scheduled civilian passenger/cargo service ▪ P -- Non-scheduled civilian all cargo service • T-100 Segment (All Carriers)
From page 68...
... 68 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary 6.7.1.2.1 Changes in Methodology over Time. Data sources may change their data collection or reporting methods over time, making it difficult to compare data elements across multiple years within a single data source, or across data sources.
From page 69...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 69 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) • In the CFS, air mode shipments include shipments carried by truck to or from an airport.
From page 70...
... 70 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary 6.7.2 Highway When performing data analysis, data users are advised to be aware of several temporal, taxonomical, and methodological differences associated with data elements related to highway mode. 6.7.2.1 Temporal Differences Temporal differences among and within highway mode data sources occur because of changes in methodology over time.
From page 71...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 71 6.7.2.2 Taxonomic Differences Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) The CFS includes the following distinctions between private and for-hire trucks for the highway mode, as follows: • Private Truck -- This data element is defined as a truck operated by employees of the establishment or the buyer/receiver of the shipment, and includes trucks providing dedicated services to the establishment.
From page 72...
... 72 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary rail but transfers to truck in Austin, Texas, and arrives in the Port of Laredo to cross the U.S.– Mexico border by truck, mode of transport for that shipment is truck.83 • Before 2007, data by port and commodity detail were not available for download or analysis for the land modes. 6.7.3 Rail Several temporal, taxonomical, and methodological differences are associated with data elements related to rail that data users should be aware of when performing data analysis.
From page 73...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 73 signifying mail mode, represents U.S. Postal Service and courier shipments, and cannot be further subdivided into individual modes such as air, rail, or truck.86 6.7.3.3 Methodological Differences Several methodological differences exist within individual data sources, as well as among data sources, that data users should be aware of when working with data elements related to the rail mode.
From page 74...
... 74 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary 6.7.4 Water 6.7.4.1 Taxonomic Differences Taxonomic and methodological differences among and within water mode data sources fall under the following categories: • Unique data elements • Inclusion/exclusion of data 6.7.4.1.1 Unique Data Elements. Data sources often use unique data elements to identify and differentiate attributes related to water modes of transport.
From page 75...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 75 U.S. Waterway Data • The data element VTCC (Vessel Type, Construction, and Characteristics)
From page 76...
... 76 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary North American Transborder Freight Database (Transborder) • With the release of January 2004 statistics, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
From page 77...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 77 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) • The CFS does not report on shipments weighing 150 pounds or less, which are typically classified under "multiple modes and mail."105 Freight Analysis Framework (FAF3)
From page 78...
... 78 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary changing. Changes to the intermodal infrastructure are being driven by the continued growth of containerized traffic, recent and proposed railroad mergers, the formation of ocean carrier alliances, technological advances, freight rate incentives, the availability of federal funding for intermodal projects, and many other events and factors.
From page 79...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 79 • Other mode travel is reported using the code "6 -- Other."115 • NHTSA updates the FARS Analytical User's Manual116 every year to summarize the evolution of coding. When conducting analysis across years, data users should check every data element of interest in each year's coding manual.
From page 80...
... 80 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary imports were included under DISAGMOT 8 ("Other and unknown")
From page 81...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 81 across years, data users should check every data element of interest in each year's coding manual. • P22/NM21 -- This data element identifies the method of transportation provided to transport a person to a hospital or medical facility.
From page 82...
... 82 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary 6.8.3.1 Methodological Differences Within a Data Source Data users should be aware of methodological differences within a single data source that make certain types of analysis difficult. Motor Carrier Safety Measurement Systems (MCSMS)
From page 83...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 83 Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) 136 • Beginning January 1, 1994, states participating in the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program were required to report through the SAFETYNET system a standard set of data items on all trucks and buses involved in traffic crashes that met a specific severity threshold.
From page 84...
... 84 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary should note that the presence of multiple locomotives in the train does not affect the mileage calculation. • MTMI -- This data element reports the number of motor train-miles for the month.
From page 85...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 85 6.9.2.2 Methodological Differences Carload Waybill Sample • The Surface Transportation Board (STB) classifies railroads based on their annual operating revenues as either Class I ($250 million or more)
From page 86...
... 86 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary North American Transborder Freight Data (Transborder) • Although Transborder contains data on exports to and imports from Canada and Mexico, all data elements that report monetary information (e.g., FREIGHT, VALUE)
From page 87...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 87 • To ensure that they are using the desired unit of measurement for analysis, data users need to recognize the difference between the data elements RAMPTORAMP (or RAMPTIME)
From page 88...
... 88 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary 6.9.5 Volume: Traffic 6.9.5.1 Taxonomic Differences Freight Analysis Framework (FAF3) • Data users should be aware that local truck traffic that is not part of FAF3.1 (FAF version 3.1)
From page 89...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 89 • HPMS requires that vehicle classification counts be adjusted to represent average conditions as recommended in the FHWA's Traffic Monitoring Guide; see that guide for specific guidance on count adjustments used in the HPMS.166,167,168 6.9.6 Volume: Water/Vessels 6.9.6.1 Taxonomic Differences U.S. Waterway Data • ACTUALCY -- This data element reports the actual cubic yards dredged.
From page 90...
... 90 Implementing the Freight Transportation Data Architecture: Data Element Dictionary – Light-heavy -- The average vehicle weight is 19,501 to 26,000 pounds – Heavy-heavy -- The average vehicle weight is 26,001 pounds or more.172 This classification may be different from that used by other data sources. 6.9.7.2 Temporal Differences Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
From page 91...
... Differences in Data Element Definitions 91 shipping weight data is available for all import modes. For exports, Transborder SHIPWT data is available for air and vessel modes but not for surface modes.178 6.10 Geospatial Data The two main sources of geospatial transportation data are the National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD)

Key Terms



This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.