MAFC has completed an Analysis of Surface Transportation Board Waybill Data for Freight Planning and Operations.
The objective of this study is to review the STB rail waybill data, analyze it, and examine the adequacy of the data for state freight rail planning and operations decision-making. The study reviews waybill data, focusing on aspects including accessibility, composition, quality, and usability of the data. It compares the waybill data against alternate databases, specifically the Association of American Railroads (AAR) rail data, to determine the waybill data’s strengths and shortcomings, and suggest where alternate sources should supplement the waybill data depending on analytical needs. Given the user demand for timely and detailed freight rail data, the ease of procurement, use, and potential deficiencies were examined. Read the full report at: MAFC 24 Analysis of Surface Transportation Board Waybill Data for Freight Planning and Operations.