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BTS Releases First-Time Estimates of Truck Shipments

Contact DOT 73-97 BTS Product Line 202-366-DATA

Tuesday, May 20, 1997 -- The Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today released estimates of the ton-miles and value of truck shipments in America in a new report series, TranStats.

"These estimates illustrate the movement of goods by truck from, to, within, and through states, and the impact of interstate commerce on our nation's highways," said T.R. Lakshmanan, Director of BTS. "This is the first time that data indicate the importance of trucking to each state, and the amount of trucking activity on the highways," he continued.

Overall, trucks carried about $4.6 trillion worth of goods over 900 billion ton-miles in 1993. The data come from the 1993 Commodity Flow Survey and the 1992 Census of Agriculture.

"Truck Movements in America: Shipments From, To, Within, and Through States" is the first in the new report series. BTS developed TranStats to highlight topics of current interest and new transportation data developments in a short easy-to-read format.

This report, as well as future issues of TranStats, is available in both printed and electronic forms. Printed copies may be ordered by calling (202) 366-DATA, faxing (202) 366-3640, or by writing to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room 3430, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. The electronic version of this report is available on the Bureau's Internet site at http://www.bts.gov .