The Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group has been created in accordance with Section 6018 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (P.L. 114-94; Dec. 4, 2015; 129 Stat. 1312). The Working Group supports development of the newly-established Port Performance Freight Statistics Program, managed by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The goal of the program is “to provide nationally consistent measures of performance” of the nation’s largest ports, and to report annually to Congress on port capacity and throughput.

The Working Group is established in the FAST Act to provide recommendations to the BTS Director on matters related to port performance measures; to identify a standard for port data; to specify standards for consistent port performance measures; to recommend statistics for measuring port capacity and throughput; and to develop a process to collect timely and consistent data.

The FAST Act designates the members of the Working Group, and sets a due date for recommendations of December 4, 2016.

Working Group Status

• On December 4, 2016, the Working Group made its recommendations to the BTS director. 

Working Group Background, Charter, and Membership List

• Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act or "FAST Act"
• Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group: Background - Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) database
• Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group: Charter
• Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group: Membership List

Federal Register Notices

• Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group: Notice of Public Meeting and Public Comment Period on Draft Work Plan (October 3, 2016)
• Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group: Notice of Public Meetings (August 22, 2016)
• Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group: Notice of Public Meeting (June 14, 2016)
• Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group; Notice of Establishment of Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership (February 23, 2016)

Past Working Group Meetings

• November 18, 2016
  • Agenda
    • WG Recommendations to BTS
    • West Coast Ports: Better Supply Chain Information Could Improve DOT's Freight Efforts (GAO-17-23: October 31, 2016)
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Summary of Member Votes on Recommendations
  • Public Comments
    • Dennis Daggett [ILA], Don Marcus [MM&P], and Jeff Pavlak [TTD]
    • Jonathan Gold [National Retail Federation]
• October 21, 2016
  • Agenda
  • Meeting Minutes
• September 23, 2016
  • Agenda
    • Draft Work Plan (PDF)
    • Port List Recommendation (PPT)
    • Waterborne Commerce Statistical Center (PPT)
    • Port Performance Metrics (PPT)
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Public Comments
    • Edward Wykind, Transportation Trade Division, AFL-CIO (PDF)
• July 15, 2016
  • Agenda
    1. Welcome and Guidance for Recommendations (PDF)
    2. Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (PDF)
    3. Overview of key definitions (PDF)
    4. Overview of current measures and available data (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Public Comments
    1. Don Berchoff, TruWeather Solutions (PDF)
    2. Multi Association Letter on Port Performance Metrics to the Department of Transportation (PDF)
    3. Val Noronha, Digital Geographic (PDF)
    4. Jennifer M. Safavian, Retail Industry Leaders Association (PDF)
    5. Consolidated Responses to 3Qs from Working Group Members (PDF)