The Washington State Freight and Goods Transportation System (FGTS) is a classification of state highways, county roads, and city streets according to the average annual gross truck tonnage they carry. The FGTS provides an estimate of the highways and roadways most heavily used by trucks. WSDOT’s most recent update of the FGTS occurred in 2009.
Tonnage values are derived from actual or estimated truck traffic count data that is converted into average weights by truck type. Freight corridors designated as Strategic Freight Corridors are those routes that carry an average of four million or more gross tons by truck annually (T-1 or T-2 routes). The FGTS 2007 Update provides updated classification information for T-1 through T-5 roadways at the state, county and city levels.
The FGTS freight tonnage classifications are:
- T-1: more than 10 million tons per year
- T-2: 4 million to 10 million tons per year
- T-3: 300,000 to 4 million tons per year
- T-4: 100,000 to 300,000 tons per year
- T-5: at least 20,000 tons in 60 days
WSDOT, with the assistance of the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) and the County Road Administration Board (CRAB), updates the FGTS classifications on a periodic basis as required by the Washington State Legislature.
The FGTS is primarily used to establish funding eligibility for Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) grants, support Highways of Statewide Significance designation, fulfill federal reporting requirements, and plan for pavement needs and upgrades. At a minimum, WSDOT updates the list of T-1 and T-2 roadways every two years to assist in FMSIB strategic freight corridor designation.
Revisions to the Freight and Goods Transportation System routes and tonnage classifications are developed by the agency having jurisdiction over the roadway segment. The WSDOT Freight Systems Division maintains the Freight and Goods Transportation System database and manages the update process.
For questions or comments regarding the Freight and Goods Transportation System, please contact Wenjuan Zhao, WSDOT Freight Policy and Project Manager, by e-mail Wenjuan Zhao or phone at 360-705-6990.
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