Skip to main content

Guidance for Developing a Freight Transportation Data Architecture (2010) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:


Pages 10-16

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 10...
... is currently developing a forecast of commodity flows by mode. Efforts by the state DOT to merge data from different studies had to address commodity code compatibility issues because state data used Standard Transportation Commodity Code (STCC)
Read the entire page →
From page 11...
... Access to finer resolution O-D data collected at the national level would provide state and local transportation planners with a valuable long-term analysis tool for making freight-related infrastructure improvements. • Regional freight data integration.
Read the entire page →
From page 12...
... The transportation community has recognized the urgent need to address this problem. For example, the TRB's 2003 Special Report 276: A Concept for a National Freight Data Program, recommended a framework for developing national commodity movement data, with a goal to facilitate data fusion and fill data gaps in order to develop a comprehensive picture of freight flows (4)
Read the entire page →
From page 13...
... , the Carload Waybill Sample, and the Waterborne Commerce of the United States (WCUS) database.
Read the entire page →
From page 14...
... 14 Figure 4. NCHRP Project 8-36 -- Task 79's proposed freight data exchange network framework (6)
Read the entire page →
From page 15...
... Research Objectives The overarching theme behind NCFRP Project 12 was the need for accurate, comprehensive, timely freight transportation data at different levels, as well as the need for a holistic approach to freight transportation data. More specifically, NCFRP 12 was set up to identify specifications for a national freight data architecture that would facilitate freight-related statistical and economic analyses; support the decisionmaking process by public and private stakeholders at the national, state, regional, and local levels; and enable the acquisition and maintenance of critical data needed to identify freight-related transportation needs.
Read the entire page →
From page 16...
... The remainder of this report summarizes the research findings as follows: • Chapter 2 includes a discussion of systems, databases, and architectures that might be used as a potential reference for the development of a national freight data architecture; • Chapter 3 includes a summary of data needs and the results of online questionnaires and subsequent interviews with freight stakeholders; • Chapter 4 provides an outline and draft requirements for a national freight data architecture, as well as challenges and strategies related to the implementation of a national freight data architecture; and • Chapter 5 includes relevant conclusions and recommendations. • Appendix A of the contractor's final report, available on the project webpage, provides freight transportation data sources.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • data items
  • carload waybill
  • waybill sample
  • data architecture
  • freight data

  • analysis tool
  • national freight
  • motor carrier
  • freight analysis
  • data include

  • critical data
  • transportation statistics
  • freight movement
  • rail carrier
  • interstate highway

  • analysis framework
  • data exchange
  • national transportation
  • data quality
  • commodity flows

  • metropolitan planning
  • local agencies
  • business processes
  • commodity classification
  • border crossing

  • commodity flow
  • trade data
  • international standard
  • special report
  • data item


    • 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.