TRB CFS Session 414 January Freight Data for the Future Report From the TRB CFS Conference July 8-9, 2005 Joseph L. Schofer Northwestern University

TRB CFS Session 414 January Going Beyond CFS Loving & hating CFS –TRB SR 277: CFS … until something better comes along Clarity on CFS limitations Cottage industry evolved to make CFS useful It’s time to talk about something better –Needs, opportunities beyond 2007

TRB CFS Session 414 January Freight Data for Decision Support Support the policy debate Infrastructure assurance –Assessment –Planning –Management –Security Economic development –Competitive edge –Growth & change Managing private, public & shared facilities

TRB CFS Session 414 January Road to a Better FDB Why? –Avoid CFS flaws Coverage Aggregation Context information –Better support for key facility & service decisions –Respond to new issues, challenges What? –A new product – post 2007 How? –New motivation –New methods –Use our accumulated knowledge Who? –Coalition of users, providers needed to effect change

TRB CFS Session 414 January Not Just Your Father’s CFS It’s not just about data collection –Must understand process, causality Freight/logistics process is complex –Concerns both commodity and multimodal vehicle flows –Jointly owned – public, private interests No dedicated (federal) investment program to drive decision needs Data targets – decision & decision makers – not clear People & institutions Products ShipmentsModes Vehicles Infrastructure

TRB CFS Session 414 January Context, Complexity & Needs Evolving context –Global economy –Intermodalism –Technology revolution (IT – more info) Complex process, complex information –O-D x commodity x mode (x mode x mode) –Vehicle flows as well as shipments –Routes & LOS –Shipper, receiver attributes Expanded coverage & detail More industries Exports & imports 3PLs & warehouses Geographic detail – SMA to SMA flows Accessible database Maersk BNSF

TRB CFS Session 414 January Defining the Future Freight Database TRB should lead definition of next FDB –Forum for users, providers, governments, industry, researchers SAFETEA-LU mandates Transportation Information Needs Assessment Study –By NAS–TRB Studies & Info Services Division –Broad input from TRB technical committees –Speak with coordinated voice Build support for FDB –Learn from threat to 2007 CFS –Show FDB around to gather support Trade groups & industries State & local governments Congress… Get Coalition on the bandwagon

TRB CFS Session 414 January Think Broadly: Data Types, Sources, Methods Shipper survey is not enough –Shipper can’t always know freight path (determined by carrier, 3PL) Load consolidation Real-time mode choice Intermodalism Tracking the supply chain –Private sector collaboration –Protecting confidentiality –Tracking the products (RFID) Multi-perspective data collection & fusion –Add shipper, receiver, LOS data –To understand causality –To build forecasting models Continuous data collection

TRB CFS Session 414 January Users –Government –Industry Providers (OEM) –Government Census DOT Others… –Industry Cottage industry (modifiers) TRB Role –SAFETEA-LU study –Ongoing effort Coalition to Communicate Needs

TRB CFS Session 414 January Moving to the Future…