LESSONS LEARNED IN FREIGHT DATA COLLECTION

Transcription

1 LESSONS LEARNED IN FREIGHT DATA COLLECTION N C A M P O C O N F E R E N C E Leta F. Huntsinger, PhD, PE Billy Bachman, PhD Triad Partners

2 OVERVIEW Study Background Freight in the Triad Region Goals of the project Freight Node Database Initial Data Collection Strategy Revised Data Collection Strategy Survey Results Lessons Learned

3 STUDY BACKGROUND Freight in NC Average value of all domestic freight expected to increase from $1,100 to $1,300 per ton between 2012 & 2040 Piedmont Together Freight movement as a driving economic force Goals and objectives that highlight the importance of freight Piedmont Triad region is one of the world s largest transportation and logistics clusters North Carolina Freight Traffic Flows Average $/Ton Domestic Imports Exports Combined 2012 $ 1,105 $ 1,815 $ 2,954 $ 1, $ 1,292 $ 3,546 $ 3,383 $ 1,387 US Department of Transportation, Freight Analysis Framework Data Tabulation Tool

4 STUDY BACKGROUND Project Goals Collect data to support development of an advanced freight model Sources of freight related data ID freight nodes Develop and execute a survey tool to collect freight related data SHRP2 C20 Freight Demand Modeling and Data Improvement Road map for improved freight data sets and freight modeling practices

5 FREIGHT NODE DATABASE Data sources Geocoding and challenges Populating the database Key data elements Location Contact Type

6 INITIAL DATA COLLECTION STRATEGY Sampling Plan Considers facility type and scale Distribution center, intermodal, major shipper, retail Large, medium, and small with respect to freight traffic Considers geographic distribution Considers strong relationships with industry representatives But within the constraints of the sample plan Freight Node Surveys Contact by phone to schedule in-person interview 4 teams of 2 conducting interviews Goal: 2 3 interviews per day

7 REVISED FREIGHT NODE DATABASE Challenges encountered during data collection phase Database did not include all freight nodes Contact information was outdated Enhancements were necessary Google Earth/Maps Intensive visual review Building SQFT Truck Bays Truck Parking 969 Freight Nodes

8 REVISED DATA COLLECTION STRATEGY Challenges Absence of key freight nodes Scheduling of interviews was difficult due to lack of contact information for key individuals Available phone numbers often resulted in dead ends Success rate made it clear that revisions were needed Revised Approach Visit each facility in person to establish inperson contact Speak with facility operation manager Leave addressed and stamped survey form to complete and return later Response rate moved from ~7% to nearly 30% 76% of surveys received in this manner

9 SURVEY RESULTS

10 Avg. Full Time Employees Avg. Building Square Footage Avg. number of Truck Bays Average Daily Trucks Count Distribution Center , Intermodal Facility , Retail , Shipper , Grand Total , SURVEY RESULTS A V E R A G E S T A T I S T I C S B Y F A C I L I T Y T Y P E

11 SURVEY RESULTS S U R V E Y L O C A T I O N B Y N U M B E R O F T R U C K S P E R D A Y

12 SURVEY RESULTS E M P L O Y M E N T A N D T R U C K T R I P S B Y F A C I L I T Y T Y P E

13 SURVEY RESULTS B U I L D I N G S Q F T A N D T R U C K T R I P S B Y F A C I L I T Y T Y P E

14 LESSONS LEARNED Chamber listings, business listing, and employment databases are a good starting point, but should not be the sole source of information Having a prior relationship with existing firms is most beneficial for a few large, unique and hard to reach firms where data may not have otherwise been obtained Care must be taken to keep the survey instrument as concise as possible to reduce respondent burden and increase response rate Highest rate of return is site visit combined with drop off of a concise survey instrument Face to face contact yielded higher return rates

15 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Billy Bachman, Westat, Inc. North Carolina Center for Global Logistics Rolf Moeckel, University of Maryland Triad Partners PART MPOs for Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Burlington- Graham NCDOT FHWA 15

16 QUESTIONS }