Freight Performance Measures Guide

Freight performance measures (FPM) are quantitative or qualitative indicators that rely on data or information to describe the influence of freight on the environment, safety, mobility, infrastructure management, economic growth, etc., but at the same time, they define the movement of freight within the transportation system. Goods movement is a broad component of transportation. FPM attempt to describe this wide-ranging area of transportation with precise feedback; however, the accuracy of FPM relies on the quality of the data used to derive the measures. To help guide the development of FPM strategies, this brief report first demonstrates that the time is right for transportation agencies to start considering freight performance measures. A national emphasis and implementation of FPM has paved the way for the usage of freight indicators, which can provide useful information to transportation planners given the charge to implement FPM. In addition, this overview introduces the areas that will most likely affect the development of FPM in Texas.