Freight Transportation Profile-Nebraska Freight Analysis Framework
Understanding future freight activity is important for matching infrastructure supply to demand and for assessing potential investment and operational strategies. To help decisionmakers identify areas in need of capacity improvements, the U.S. Department of Transportation developed the Freight Analysis Framework (FAF), a comprehensive national database and analysis tool that examines freight flows for the truck, rail, water, and air modes. FAF also forecasts freight activity in 2010 and 2020 for each of these modes. Information about the methodology used in developing FAF is available on the Office of Freight Management and Operations' website www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight.
The U.S. freight transportation network moves a staggering volume of goods each year. Over 15 billion tons of goods, worth over $9 trillion were moved in 1998. The movement of bulk goods, such as grains, coal, and ores, still comprises a large share of the tonnage moved on the U.S. freight network. However, lighter and more valuable goods, such as computers and office equipment, now make up an increasing proportion of what is moved. FAF estimates that trucks carried about 71 percent of the total tonnage and 80 percent of the total value of U.S. shipments in 1998. By 2020, the U.S. transportation system is expected to handle about 23 billion tons of cargo valued at nearly $30 trillion.
Nebraska
Table 1 presents information on freight shipments that have either an origin or a destination in Nebraska. As shown in the table, trucks moved a large percentage of the tonnage and value of shipments, followed by rail. Figures 1 and 2 show these freight flows on the highway and rail modes.
Truck traffic is expected to grow throughout the state over the next 20 years. More of the growth will occur in urban areas and on the Interstate highway system (Figures 3 and 4). Truck traffic moving to and from Nebraska accounted for 15 percent of the average annual daily traffic-truck (AADTT) on the FAF road network. Approximately 7 percent of truck traffic involved in-state shipments, and 62 percent involved trucks traveling across the state to other markets. Sixteen percent of the AADTT were not identified with a specific origin or destination.
Table 2 shows the top five commodity groups shipped to, from, and within Nebraska. As expected, the top commodities by weight are farm products and minerals. By value, the top five commodities include farm and food products followed by secondary traffic, which is defined as freight flows to and from distribution centers or through intermodal facilities. No commodities are assigned to this intermediate step in the transportation process.
Table 1. Freight Shipments To, From, and Within Nebraska: 1998, 2010, and 2020
| NEBRASKA | Tons (millions) | Value (billions $) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2010 | 2020 | 1998 | 2010 | 2020 | |
| By Mode | ||||||
| Air | <1 | <1 | <1 | 5 | 13 | 23 |
| Highway | 155 | 212 | 250 | 93 | 169 | 261 |
| Rail | 46 | 59 | 69 | 8 | 13 | 19 |
| Water | <1 | <1 | <1 | <1 | <1 | <1 |
| State Total | 201 | 272 | 319 | 106 | 194 | 303 |
| By Destination/Market | ||||||
| Domestic | 201 | 272 | 319 | 105 | 193 | 301 |
| International | <1 | <1 | <1 | <1 | <1 | 2 |
| Grand Total | 201 | 272 | 319 | 106 | 194 | 303 |
Figure 1. Freight Flows To, From, and Within Nebraska by Truck: 1998 (tons)
Figure 2. Freight Flows To, From, and Within Nebraska by Rail: 1998 (tons)
Figure 3. Average Annual Daily Traffic-Truck: 1998
Figure 4. Average Annual Daily Traffic-Truck: 2020
Table 2. Top Five Commodities Shipped To, From, and Within Nebraska: 1998 and 2020
| Commodity | Tons (millions) | Commodity | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2020 | 1998 | 2020 | ||
| Farm Products | 79 | 93 | Farm Products | 28 | 36 |
| Non-metallic Minerals | 36 | 47 | Food & Kindred Products | 22 | 40 |
| Food & Kindred Products | 25 | 35 | Seconday Traffic | 12 | 33 |
| Coal | 15 | 18 | Chemicals & Allied Products | 9 | 16 |
| Secondary Traffic | 12 | 26 | Transportation Equipment | 7 | 11 |
For More Information, Please Contact Bruce Lambert
Office of Freight Management and Operations
Federal Highway Administration
(202) 366-4241
bruce.lambert@fhwa.dot.gov
October 2002
FHWA-OP-03-018
EDL 13706
A series of FAF products are available on the website noted below. FAF outputs include freight flow maps for states, modes, and gateways; detailed databases on traffic flows and commodity movements; information on the methodologies used to develop FAF; and forecast assumptions. An online freight dialogue on freight data has also been established on the website.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) is also developing a series of state transportation profiles. For more information and to obtain a copy of the BTS reports, please call 202-366-DATA.
Office of Freight Management and Operations
400 7th Street, SW, Room 3401
Washington,D.C. 20590
http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/, Toll-free help-line 866-367-7487