Why Regional and State Data Are Not Enough Potential Solutions

摘要

The Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) remains the first, best, and, frankly only, gateway to understanding freight movements in the United States. Without the creation of the CFS analysts were forced to rely upon anecdotal evidence, expert opinion and suspect data sets. The purpose of mis paper is not to diminish the tremendous accomplishment of the CFS. Without the touchstone of the CFS many analysts (myself included) would just be poking in the dark and reading tea leaves. In the CFS's current manifestation the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) participates as both a value added producer, creating the Freight Analytical Framework (FAF) and Geofreight; and a user, relying upon the CFS, FAF, and Geofreight as primary sources for analytical reports and recommendations to political decision makers. This paper will discuss the DOT uses of the CFS (and related products), deficiencies in the current CFS release formats and products, and solutions to improve the CFS products.