The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), like other federal statistical agencies, establishes official standards to guide the methods and procedures for the collection, processing, data quality assurance, storage, and presentation of statistical data. Standards and guidelines define the professional basis and the level of quality and effort expected in all statistical activities, including those of contractors. The standards ensure consistency and data quality among studies conducted by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and provide users clear documentation of the methods and principles employed in the development, collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of statistical information. 

Quality of data has many faces. Primarily, it must be useful to its users. Usefulness (relevance) is achieved through a series of steps starting with a planning process that links user needs to data requirements. It continues through acquisition of data that are objective and accurate in measuring what it was designed to measure and produced in a timely manner. Finally, the data must be made accessible and easy to interpret for the users. In a more global sense, data programs also need to be complete and comparable (to both other data systems and to earlier versions). The creation of data that address all facets of quality requires effort through all the development phases from the initial data program objectives, through program design, collection, processing, and dissemination to the users. This document is intended to help management and data program "owners" achieve data quality through that sequential process.

This version was updated with minor technical corrections on April 7, 2026. The fully updated standards are in progress.