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National Highway Freight Network

What is the National Highway Freight Network?

The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) repealed both the Primary Freight Network and National Freight Network from Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and directed the FHWA Administrator to establish a National Highway Freight Network (NHFN) to strategically direct Federal resources and policies toward improved performance of highway portions of the U.S. freight transportation system.

The NHFN includes the following subsystems of roadways:

  • Primary Highway Freight System (PHFS): This is a network of highways identified as the most critical highway portions of the U.S. freight transportation system determined by measurable and objective national data. As of the 2022 Congressional re-designation of the PHFS, this network consists of about 41,799 centerlines miles, including 38,014 centerline miles of Interstate and 3,785 centerline miles of non-Interstate roads. PHFS is managed by the Office of Freight Management and Operations.
  • Other Interstate portions not on the PHFS (non-PHFS): These highways consist of the remaining portion of Interstate roads not included in the PHFS. These routes provide important continuity and access to freight transportation facilities. These portions amount to an estimated 10,265 centerline miles of Interstate nationwide and will fluctuate with additions and deletions to the Interstate Highway System. The mileage for Non-PHFS Interstate is based on the Interstate Mileage reported in the National Highway System (NHS) as of October 17, 2019.
  • Critical Rural Freight Corridors (CRFCs): These are public roads not in an urbanized area which provide access and connection to the PHFS and the Interstate with other important ports, public transportation facilities, or other intermodal freight facilities. As of January 2023, there are about 5,390 centerline miles designated as CRFCs. Official record of CRFCs is with the FHWA Division Offices.
  • Critical Urban Freight Corridors (CUFCs): These are public roads in urbanized areas which provide access and connection to the PHFS and the Interstate with other ports, public transportation facilities, or other intermodal transportation facilities. As of January 2023, there are about 2,656 centerline miles designated as CUFCs. Official record of CUFCs is with the FHWA Division Offices.

There is about 60,110 centerline miles designated on the NHFN (consisting of the PHFS, other Interstate portions not on the PHFS, the CRFCs, and the CUFCs).

States and in certain cases, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), are responsible for designating public roads for the CRFCs and CUFCs in accordance with section 1116 of the FAST Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law section 11114. State designation of the CRFCs is limited to a maximum of 300 miles of highway or 20 percent of the PHFS mileage in the State, whichever is greater. State and MPO designation of the CUFC is limited to a maximum of 150 miles of highway or 10 percent of the PHFS mileage in the State, whichever is greater. In the case of rural states, as defined in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law section 11114, the mileage maximum increases to 600 miles for CRFCs or 20 percent of the PHFS mileage in the State, whichever is greater.

Where can I access NHFN data?

Explore the following links to access more information on the NHFN:

Designation/Re-Designation of the PHFS

The initial designation of the PHFS was set by the FAST Act as the 41,518 mile-long network identified during the designation process for the MAP-21 highway-only primary freight network (PFN) under 23 U.S.C. 167(d). Information on the methodology and data used for the highway-only PFN designation is described in the October 23, 2015, Federal Register Notice — Final Designation of the Highway-Only Primary Freight Network — Notice; response to comments [HTML, PDF 291KB]. The FHWA Administrator is required to re-designate the PHFS every 5 years to reflect changes in freight flows, including emerging freight corridors and critical commerce corridors. Each re-designation is limited to a maximum 3 percent increase in the total mileage of the system. On August 26, 2021, at 86 FR 47705, FHWA published a Notice requesting information pertaining to re-designation of the PHFS and received comments for PHFS changes. The re-designated PHFS consists of 41,799 centerline miles of roadways.

Non-PHFS Interstates

The FAST Act included the entirety of the Interstate System—including Interstate facilities not located on the PHFS—in the NHFN; however, all Interstate System roadways may not yet be reflected on the attached national and State NHFN maps and tables. FHWA will update the maps and tables on a periodic basis, incorporating any Interstate System routes missing currently, as well as those new roads added to the Interstate System that become part of the "non-PHFS Interstate System Highways" component of the NHFN under 23 U.S.C. 167(c)(2)(D).

In the interim, FHWA maintains an Interstate System Route Log and Finder. All Interstate System routes reflected in the Route Log and Finder are components of the NHFN, either as part of the PHFS (23 U.S.C. 167(c)(2)(A)) or non-PHFS Interstate System Highways (23 U.S.C. 167(c)(2)(D)). This resource depicts all Interstate System routes that will eventually be reflected in the forthcoming NHFN maps and tables during periodic updates in accordance with the HPMS annual data cycle.

If you are aware of a map or table with incorrect or outdated information, please contact the FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations.

Additional Resources

Staff Contact

Jeff Purdy
202-366-6993
Jeffrey.Purdy@dot.gov 

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