A Concept for a National Freight Data Program

This report, prepared by the Committee on Freight Transportation Data: A Framework for Development, presents the results of a study conducted to recommend a framework for the development of national freight data. The framework articulates the types of freight data needed by the variety of users in transportation and the roles of different data providers. The report commences with a highlights section, which summarizes very briefly the reasons freight data are needed, the deficiencies of current data, and a new approach to data collection aimed at remedying these deficiencies. The highlights section is followed immediately by the committee's findings and recommendations. Subsequent chapters address in some detail the need for freight transportation data (Chapter 1), current data limitations (Chapter 2), and a concept for a national freight data program (Chapter 3).