Statewide Truck Network Model

The research effort to develop a base year statewide truck network model for North Carolina was successful. The effort demonstrated an innovative methodology adopted for developing an initial prototype statewide truck network model using available data within a limited time frame. The study described the development and implementation of the North Carolina truck network model. The model estimated North Carolina internal, external and through truck traffic. The model was developed from national truck flow databases including the NHPN and the FAF2 origin-destination annual average daily truck trips data. It was developed using TransCAD software. The methodology adopted for developing the North Carolina truck network model synthesized accepted practices for developing a statewide network model including selecting the traffic analysis zones, choosing the network, and developing the three sequential steps for trip generation, trip distribution and network assignment. The methodology relied on available FAF2 origin-destination synthesized data and typical truck trip generation rates from the Quick Response Freight Manual.