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 2017 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 5 (FAF5) baseline edition provides estimates for tonnage and value by regions of origin and destination, commodity type, and mode for 2017, the most recent CFS year. Data are available through the Data Extraction Tool, for download as a complete database, as well as summary files. This Initial release of FAF5 data includes updated origin and destination component of FAF5 base year (year 2017). FAF5 30-year forecasts and FAF5 estimates of truck flows on highway network and other mapping products will be released in stages throughout year 2021. FAF5 Forecast data is schedule for release by summer of 2021 and highway flows estimates by fall of 2021.

Latest FAF Data

FAF Data Tabulation Tool – Create and download customized FAF Origin-Destination flow data and summary tables
Prepopulated Summary Tables and Statistics
FAF Database - Download entire FAF Origin-Destination flow data
Freight Analysis Framework Version 5 (FAF5) Frequently Asked Questions

Latest FAF Technical Documents

Status and Schedule

- FAF5 products will be released in stages starting early 2021. The initial release will include base-year 2017 data, followed by FAF forecasts and FAF highway network flow estimates.
- FAF5 Forecast will be released in summer of 2021
- FAF5 Network Flow Estimates in Fall of 2021

Archived FAF4 Data (FAF4) and Technical Document

FAF4 data is based on 2012 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) and international trade data from the Census Bureau and data other sources to incorporates data that are not captured in CFS. FAF4 forecasts and FAF4 estimates of truck flows on highway network and other mapping products are also based on 2012 information.

FAF Database - Please click on the link below to download entire FAF Origin-Destination flow data
- FAF4.5.1_access_HiLoForecasts.zip
- FAF4.5.1_csv_HiLoForecasts.zip
FAF4 Freight Traffic Assignment Report [PDF 2.2MB]
Freight Analysis Framework Inter-Regional Commodity Flow Forecast Study [PDF 1.8MB]
FAF4 Base Year Data Development Report [PDF 1.3MB]
FAF4 Users Guide

Archived Webinars

December 14, 2017 – "How to Leverage FAF4 Freight Data for Transportation Analysis: Example Cases from the Oregon and Tennessee DOTs"
September 25, 2017 – "Truck Flow Estimation Method and Visualization"
June 28, 2017 – "Inside the FAF4 - Forecasting Origin-Destination Freight Flows and Why it Matters"
December 11, 2015 – "Introduction to FAF4"
September 15, 2015 – "Leveraging Other Datasets with the FAF: A Case Study on California's Statewide Freight Model"
April 29, 2015 – "Using FAF Data for Freight Planning"
November 5, 2014 – "Using Freight Analysis Framework Data for Freight Planning"
June 26, 2014 – "Using Freight Analysis Framework Data in Economic Analysis"
April 10, 2014 – "How the FAF Can Help You"

Related Publications and Data

The Latest Freight Facts and Figures is now available.
Methods to Update Freight Analysis Framework Out-of-Scope Commodity Flow Data and Truck Payload Factors [ HTML, PDF 13.3MB ]
Quick Response Freight Methods Third Edition [ PDF 5.5MB ]
Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey
Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS)
National Performance Management Research Data Set (NPMRDS)

Contact Us

For questions regarding FAF contact us at Birat.Pandey@dot.gov

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