Freight Analysis Framework

The Freight Analysis Framework (FAF), produced through a partnership between Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), integrates data from a variety of sources to create a comprehensive picture of freight movement among states and major metropolitan areas by all modes of transportation. Starting with data from the 2012 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) and international trade data from the Census Bureau, FAF incorporates data from agriculture, extraction, utility, construction, service, and other sectors.

The FAF version 4 (FAF4) baseline edition provides estimates for tonnage and value by regions of origin and destination, commodity type, and mode for 2012, the most recent CFS year. Data are available through the Data Extraction Tool, for download as a complete database, as well as summary files.

Throughout 2016, releases of additional FAF4 products will provide forecasts through 2045; state-to-state flows for 1997, 2002, and 2007; truck flows assigned to the highway network for 2012 and 2045; and domestic ton-miles and distance bands.

The 2013 Freight Facts and Figures (HTML, PDF 5.8MB) is now available.

FAF4 Data and Documentation

Archived FAF3 Data and Documentation

FAF4 Data and Documentation

Data Extraction Tool

The Data Extraction Tool (DET) allows users to create and download customized FAF4 summary tables:

Data Files

FAF4 Regional Database for 2012 in zipped CSV format

FAF4 Regional Database for 2012 in zipped MS Access format

Schedule of Releases

Winter 2016

Revised edition of the 2012 base year data
Regional forecasts to 2045
- Annual estimates for 2013-15 based on 2012
- Every five years for 2015-2045

Spring 2016

FAF network and truck assignments
Historical data for 1997, 2002, and 2007

Summer 2016

Domestic ton-miles and distance bands
New provisional estimate methodology for estimating annual data

FAF4 Documentation

FAF4 Users Guide: coming soon
FAF4 Documentation: coming soon

FAF Quarterly Webinar

Please join BTS and the FHWA's Office of Freight Management and Operations for periodic webinars on FAF. The date of the next webinar is upcoming.

Archived Webinars

April 10, 2014 – "How the FAF Can Help You"
June 26, 2014 – "Using Freight Analysis Framework Data in Economic Analysis"
November 5, 2014 – "Using Freight Analysis Framework Data for Freight Planning"
April 29, 2015 – "Using FAF Data for Freight Planning"
September 15, 2015 – "Leveraging Other Datasets with the FAF: A Case Study on California's Statewide Freight Model"

Archived FAF Listening Sessions – FHWA offered two listening sessions in December 2013 and January 2014 to obtain feedback on the next generation of the FAF. Recordings of these sessions are available from the links below:

Archived FAF3 Data and Documentation

FAF Data Tabulation Tool – Create and download customized FAF3 summary tables
Regional Database of tonnage, value, and domestic ton-miles by FAF region of origin and destination, commodity type, and mode for 2007 through 2040
- FAF3 Regional Database for 2007 with forecasts through 2040, and 2013 Provisional Data in zipped Microsoft Access format [faf3_6_access03.zip 289MB]
- FAF3 Regional Data base for 2007 with forecasts through 2040 in zipped CSV format [faf3_5.zip 144MB]
- FAF3 Provisional Annual Data for 2013 in zipped CSV format [faf3_6_prov2013.zip 33MB]
State Database of tonnage, value, and domestic ton-miles by state of origin and destination, commodity type, and mode for 1997 through 2040. Note: 1997 and 2002 have been reprocessed using FAF3 methodology with original source data.
- FAF3 State Database for 2007 with forecasts through 2040, 2013 Provisional Data, and Reprocessed State Annual Data for 1997 and 2002 in zipped Microsoft Access format [faf3_6_access03state.zip 130MB]
- FAF3 State Database for 2007 with forecasts through 2040 in zipped CSV format [faf3_5_state.zip 179MB]
- FAF3 State Provisional Annual Data for 2013 in zipped CSV format [faf3_6_prov2013state.zip 13MB]
- FAF3 Reprocessed State Annual Data for 1997 in zipped CSV format [faf3_3_1997_state.zip 10MB]
- FAF3 Reprocessed State Annual Data for 2002 in zipped CSV format [faf3_3_2002_state.zip 7MB]

FAF3 Summary Statistics and Products

FAF3 Network Data

FAF3 Network Database and Flow Assignment for 2007 and 2040

FAF3 Documentation

Related Information

Talking Freight Seminar – Freight Analysis Framework 3 (October 20, 2010)
Information on FAF1 and FAF2 available upon request from FAF@dot.gov.

Staff Contact

Coral Torres
202-366-7602
Coral.Torres@dot.gov

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