Freight Data for Planning and Operations

Based on an assessment of the various freight data challenges drawn from the literature, a set of broad freight data needs were developed. These needs cut across multiple planning and operational functions such as, long-range freight planning, system performance monitoring, modal-shift analysis, last-mile deliveries, e-commerce, truck idling, truck parking, and land-use. 

Leadership regarding freight data collection, organization, analysis, and standards

As part of NCHRP 08-119, efforts are underway to develop a series of resources that will help practitioners integrate big data with other datasets to address freight transportation planning, operations challenges, and needs. Specifically, four resources are currently under development:

Proposed in 2003, this framework intends to guide the development of a national freight database, related data collection, and synthesis activities. This conceptual framework focused on increasing the linkages between different sources of data and fulfilling the major needs of a wide variety of users by capturing the important characteristics of freight movements (shipment

One of the initial efforts by a state DOTs in developing an online environment to integrate, visualize, and disseminate freight data. OFDM’s system architecture involved overlaying truck volume data, GPS data, truck generator data, amongst other datasets on a Google Maps GIS layer.

Published in 2010, this report presents requirements and specifications for a scalable national freight data architecture to link myriad existing datasets.

This report was published in 2011 and followed upon the work presented in NCFRP Report 9.

This report explored innovative approaches to obtaining and making comprehensive truck activity data publicly available. The study identified a number of challenges with using truck activity data, including users integrating data from multiple sources to answer critical policy questions, lack of temporal coverage, excluded commodity types in the national surveys, and the level of investment required to use and visualize the data.

This guidebook is both a reference manual for setting up, operating, and enhancing freight data partnerships, as well as a procedural manual to aid in developing, negotiating, and formalizing data sharing agreements.

In 2014, TxDOT sponsored a study to integrate data from multiple sources to optimize freight transportation planning efforts in the state. The study team sought to establish data-sharing partnerships from private stakeholders and relay the lessons learned. In addition, the team developed a prototype freight data architecture with supporting descriptions and specifications.

This report presents the efforts to develop a freight data dictionary (FDD) for organizing the multiple freight data elements that are commonly used.

This project developed guidance for local agencies, MPOs, and state DOTs to utilize the rapidly emerging data being collected and processed by the private sector in urban and metropolitan areas. The study defined and described new data sources; examined approaches, methods, and analytical techniques that enable agencies to better carry out their planning, programming, and operations responsibilities.

The SHRP2 program sponsored a number of studies relating to Freight Demand Modeling and Local Freight Data Improvement. The program included an analysis of the current state of practice for f

There are a multitude of freight databases, both public and private, that do not conform to any uniform standard or ontology. This makes the creation of one single authoritative ontology challenging, as the individual data sources do not and will not share a common vocabulary.