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Table 6b. Hazardous Material Shipment Characteristics by Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation: 2002 and 1997

Monday, July 2, 2012

Table 6b. Hazardous Material Shipment Characteristics by Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation: 2002 and 1997

[Estimates are based on data from the 2002 and 1997 Commodity Flow Surveys. Because of rounding, estimates may not be additive]

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Class 1, Explosives

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)		 1997
(million $)		 Percent
change		 2002
(thousands)		 1997
(thousands)		 Percent
change		 2002
(millions)		 1997
(millions)		 Percent
change		 2002 1997 Percent
change
All modes 7,901 5,584 41.5 5,000 1,718 191.0 1,568 S S 651 771 &#8211 15.6
Single modes 7,748 5,012 54.6 4,984 1,682 196.3 1,557 S S 532 503 5.8
Truck 1 7,572 4,109 84.3 4,631 1,268 265.2 1,208 498 142.8 488 413 18.2
For-hire truck 6,171 3,054 102.1 1,551 411 277.0 836 277 201.7 890 913 &#8211 2.6
Private truck 1,399 1,049 33.3 S 857 S 372 S S 120 172 &#8211 29.9
Rail 97 701 &#8211 86.1 352 S S 347 S S 929 1,689 &#8211 45
Water &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211
Air (includes truck and air) S 202 S 1 1 &#8211 34.1 2 1 91.9 2,084 1,724 20.9
Pipeline 2 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 S S S S S S
Multiple modes 137 457 &#8211 70.1 S 20 S S 16 S 835 900 &#8211 7.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 137 454 &#8211 69.9 S 19 S S 15 S 835 900 &#8211 7.2
Other multiple modes &#8211 S S &#8211 S S &#8211 S S &#8211 807 &#8211
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S S S 9 397 &#8211 97.6

Class 2, Gases

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)		 1997
(million $)		 Percent
change		 2002
(thousands)		 1997
(thousands)		 Percent
change		 2002
(millions)		 1997
(millions)		 Percent
change		 2002 1997 Percent
change
All modes 73,932 47,288 56.3 213,358 137,138 55.6 37,262 26,002 43.3 95 60 58.7
Single modes 72,735 45,151 61.1 212,106 132,652 59.9 36,869 25,567 44.2 89 53 68.4
Truck 1 47,020 24,589 91.2 96,865 62,518 54.9 13,537 7,299 85.5 82 47 76.7
For-hire truck 21,860 9,657 126.4 29,359 20,224 45.2 6,786 3,628 87 486 392 24.0
Private truck 25,146 14,764 70.3 67,308 41,872 60.7 6,564 3,591 82.8 38 27 39.5
Rail 8,966 5,979 50.0 29,230 17,929 63.0 16,604 12,421 33.7 641 679 &#8211 5.7
Water 1,719 1,497 14.8 7,133 6,475 10.2 1,754 2,018 &#8211 13.1 243 721 &#8211 66.3
Air (includes truck and air) 243 477 &#8211 49 S 5 S S 5 S 1,450 1,440 0.7
Pipeline 2 14,787 12,608 17.3 78,857 45,725 72.5 S S S S S S
Multiple modes 687 497 38.3 693 538 28.7 337 124 172 643 362 77.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 525 276 90.1 S S S 8 S S 627 430 45.9
Other multiple modes 162 220 &#8211 26.7 665 484 37.3 329 111 197.3 S S S
Other and unknown modes 510 1,641 &#8211 68.9 560 S S 57 311 &#8211 81.6 S S S

Class 3, Flammable Liquids

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)		 1997
(million $)		 Percent
change		 2002
(thousands)		 1997
(thousands)		 Percent
change		 2002
(millions)		 1997
(millions)		 Percent
change		 2002 1997 Percent
change
All modes 490,238 386,994 26.7 1,788,986 1,450,591 23.3 218,574 184,824 18.3 106 69 54.3
Single modes 480,024 378,279 26.9 1,760,755 1,427,902 23.3 206,688 166,356 24.2 75 62 21.8
Truck 1 296,653 237,771 24.8 948,619 787,773 20.4 67,730 50,743 33.5 64 57 12.8
For-hire truck 119,551 91,581 30.5 346,831 281,931 23.0 35,535 25,991 36.7 192 177 8.1
Private truck 174,126 143,496 21.3 594,277 495,750 19.9 31,468 23,932 31.5 32 30 9.3
Rail 12,558 11,499 9.2 36,083 28,513 26.5 24,738 21,525 14.9 699 843 &#8211 17.1
Water 41,414 26,859 54.2 199,304 137,824 44.6 60,466 48,059 25.8 S S S
Air (includes truck and air) 96 S S S 38 S S 54 S 2,382 1,287 85.1
Pipeline 2 129,303 95,337 35.6 576,739 473,753 21.7 S S S S S S
Multiple modes 5,606 3,549 58.0 15,561 10,420 49.3 9,933 S S 979 528 85.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,743 560 211.5 121 58 109.1 57 25 127.4 966 607 59.1
Other multiple modes 3,863 2,989 29.2 15,440 10,363 49.0 9,875 S S 1,535 S S
Other and unknown modes 4,608 5,166 &#8211 10.8 12,671 12,269 3.3 S 917 S 40 20 100.4

Class 4, Flammable Solids

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)		 1997
(million $)		 Percent
change		 2002
(thousands)		 1997
(thousands)		 Percent
change		 2002
(millions)		 1997
(millions)		 Percent
change		 2002 1997 Percent
change
All modes 6,566 4,238 54.9 11,300 14,832 &#8211 23.8 4,391 9,735 &#8211 54.9 158 660 &#8211 76
Single modes 5,960 4,017 48.4 11,207 14,679 &#8211 23.7 4,334 9,610 &#8211 54.9 108 491 &#8211 77.9
Truck 1 5,150 3,101 66.1 6,711 7,786 &#8211 13.8 1,388 936 48.2 99 423 &#8211 76.7
For-hire truck 2,448 2,039 20.1 4,626 3,827 20.9 1,193 743 60.5 247 417 &#8211 40.7
Private truck 2,690 1,050 156.1 2,083 S S 192 187 2.7 42 426 &#8211 90.1
Rail 622 855 &#8211 27.3 3,157 6,478 &#8211 51.3 2,470 8,639 &#8211 71.4 870 1,379 &#8211 37
Water 16 S S 1,263 S S S S S 269 227 18.9
Air (includes truck and air) S 14 S S S S S S S 1,987 1,320 50.5
Pipeline 2 S S S S 390 S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S 149 S S S S S S S S 1,083 S
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 150 S S 7 6 19.5 S 5 S 411 1,080 &#8211 62
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S 3,924 1,617 142.6
Other and unknown modes S 73 S S S S S 9 S S S S

Class 5, Oxidizers and organic peroxides

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)		 1997
(million $)		 Percent
change		 2002
(thousands)		 1997
(thousands)		 Percent
change		 2002
(millions)		 1997
(millions)		 Percent
change		 2002 1997 Percent
change
All modes 5,471 4,485 22.0 12,670 9,239 37.1 4,221 4,471 &#8211 5.6 407 193 111.2
Single modes 5,332 4,363 22.2 12,300 9,024 36.3 4,011 4,389 &#8211 8.6 363 177 104.5
Truck 1 4,587 3,246 41.3 9,870 5,839 69.0 2,710 1,568 72.8 353 161 119.6
For-hire truck 2,381 1,969 20.9 6,777 2,954 129.4 2,411 1,163 107.3 543 490 10.8
Private truck 2,198 1,255 75.2 3,037 2,871 5.8 280 395 &#8211 29.2 68 60 13.2
Rail 743 1,115 &#8211 33.4 2,430 3,182 &#8211 23.6 1,300 2,820 &#8211 53.9 631 870 &#8211 27.4
Water &#8211 S S &#8211 S S &#8211 S S &#8211 S S
Air (includes truck and air) S &#8211 S &#8211 S S S S S 1,053 1,978 &#8211 46.8
Pipeline 2 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 S S S S S S
Multiple modes 84 38 122.6 S S S S S S 1,136 432 162.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S 1 S S &#8211 S 1,172 421 178.7
Other multiple modes 74 19 290.0 S S S S S S S 2,307 S
Other and unknown modes S 84 S S S S S S S S 74 S

Class 6, Toxic (poison)

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)		 1997
(million $)		 Percent
change		 2002
(thousands)		 1997
(thousands)		 Percent
change		 2002
(millions)		 1997
(millions)		 Percent
change		 2002 1997 Percent
change
All modes 8,275 10,085 &#8211 18 8,459 6,366 32.9 4,254 2,824 50.6 626 403 55.2
Single modes 7,703 9,397 &#8211 18 8,242 6,225 32.4 4,125 2,710 52.2 597 384 55.5
Truck 1 4,881 7,272 &#8211 32.9 2,255 2,840 &#8211 20.6 844 967 &#8211 12.7 274 254 8.1
For-hire truck 3,702 4,426 &#8211 16.4 1,762 1,875 &#8211 6 774 827 &#8211 6.4 525 505 4.1
Private truck 1,179 2,743 &#8211 57 493 893 &#8211 44.8 71 125 &#8211 43.4 55 179 &#8211 69
Rail 1,145 1,477 &#8211 22.5 1,908 1,949 &#8211 2.1 1,714 1,446 18.6 899 724 24.2
Water 962 S S 2,325 S S S S S 639 268 138.2
Air (includes truck and air) S 87 S S S S S S S 1,893 1,523 24.3
Pipeline 2 S 184 S 1,753 374 368.1 S S S S S S
Multiple modes S 447 S S 89 S S S S 826 523 57.8
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 97 338 &#8211 71.4 S 3 S S 2 S 821 517 58.9
Other multiple modes S 109 S S 86 S S S S 1,185 1,361 &#8211 12.9
Other and unknown modes S 241 S S 52 S 38 18 108.2 S 97 S

Class 7, Radioactive materials

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)		 1997
(million $)		 Percent
change		 2002
(thousands)		 1997
(thousands)		 Percent
change		 2002
(millions)		 1997
(millions)		 Percent
change		 2002 1997 Percent
change
All modes 5,850 2,722 114.9 57 87 &#8211 35.1 44 48 &#8211 8.8 S 445 S
Single modes 5,410 2,169 149.4 52 67 &#8211 21.7 38 32 17.7 S 447 S
Truck 1 5,367 1,456 268.6 52 56 &#8211 8.2 37 17 112.9 S 77 S
For-hire truck 3,271 583 460.8 22 32 &#8211 31.3 24 14 71.4 S 312 S
Private truck 2,096 873 140.2 29 24 23.1 S S S S 27 S
Rail &#8211 S S &#8211 S S &#8211 S S &#8211 1,462 &#8211
Water &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211
Air (includes truck and air) 43 462 &#8211 90.7 1 7 &#8211 90.5 1 10 &#8211 86.6 1,912 1,468 30.3
Pipeline 2 &#8211 S S &#8211 S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 440 352 25.1 4 11 &#8211 63.4 5 15 &#8211 64.9 1,185 1,087 9.0
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 440 352 25.1 4 11 &#8211 63.4 5 15 &#8211 64.9 1,185 1,087 9.0
Other multiple modes &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211 &#8211
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S S S S S S

Class 8, Corrosive materials

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)		 1997
(million $)		 Percent
change		 2002
(thousands)		 1997
(thousands)		 Percent
change		 2002
(millions)		 1997
(millions)		 Percent
change		 2002 1997 Percent
change
All modes 38,324 41,336 &#8211 7.3 90,671 98,331 &#8211 7.8 36,260 42,918 &#8211 15.5 301 205 46.7
Single modes 36,990 39,280 &#8211 5.8 88,852 95,184 &#8211 6.7 34,824 41,784 &#8211 16.7 262 180 45.9
Truck 1 31,819 28,108 13.2 51,385 49,528 3.7 15,798 12,416 27.2 201 148 35.4
For-hire truck 19,457 19,549 &#8211 0.5 35,613 32,015 11.2 13,263 10,463 26.8 463 410 13.0
Private truck 12,206 8,243 48.1 15,714 17,260 &#8211 9 2,506 1,919 30.6 73 61 18.7
Rail 3,962 7,492 &#8211 47.1 23,949 25,707 &#8211 6.8 15,606 17,948 &#8211 13 649 916 &#8211 29.1
Water 774 3,110 &#8211 75.1 9,552 18,206 &#8211 47.5 3,259 11,401 &#8211 71.4 255 471 &#8211 45.9
Air (includes truck and air) 165 155 6.2 S 3 S S 5 S 2,007 1,529 31.2
Pipeline 2 270 S S 3,959 1,740 127.5 S S S S S S
Multiple modes 887 874 1.5 1,072 644 66.4 1,187 703 69 698 569 22.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 623 606 2.8 S 45 S S 15 S 695 562 23.6
Other multiple modes 265 269 &#8211 1.5 1,010 600 68.4 1,159 688 68.6 S 1,023 S
Other and unknown modes S 1,181 S 747 2,502 &#8211 70.2 249 S S 318 106 201.6

Class 9, Miscellaneous dangerous goods

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)		 1997
(million $)		 Percent
change		 2002
(thousands)		 1997
(thousands)		 Percent
change		 2002
(millions)		 1997
(millions)		 Percent
change		 2002 1997 Percent
change
All modes 23,625 23,946 &#8211 1.3 61,018 65,317 &#8211 6.6 20,153 22,727 &#8211 11.3 368 323 13.9
Single modes 22,588 22,750 &#8211 0.7 60,036 64,641 &#8211 7.1 19,451 22,167 &#8211 12.3 310 268 15.4
Truck 1 16,581 15,515 6.9 39,126 41,592 &#8211 5.9 6,910 7,766 &#8211 11 227 189 19.7
For-hire truck 10,961 11,611 &#8211 5.6 22,961 26,722 &#8211 14.1 4,289 6,132 &#8211 30.1 297 324 &#8211 8.4
Private truck 5,621 3,671 53.1 16,165 13,721 17.8 2,621 1,575 66.5 146 81 79.5
Rail 3,246 5,567 &#8211 41.7 12,260 18,334 &#8211 33.1 9,307 13,064 &#8211 28.8 860 710 21.2
Water 1,972 S S 8,619 S S 3,204 S S 476 402 18.6
Air (includes truck and air) 788 381 107.1 S 9 S S 14 S 2,268 1,347 68.4
Pipeline 2 S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 864 841 2.7 S 418 S 688 409 68 750 696 7.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 544 465 17.1 3 4 &#8211 31.9 3 2 36.5 731 686 6.6
Other multiple modes 320 376 &#8211 15.1 S 414 S 684 407 68.2 1,075 1,446 &#8211 25.7
Other and unknown modes 173 S S S S S S S S 962 194 395.6

KEY:
&#8211 Represents and estimate equal to zero or less than 1 unit of measure.
S Estimate does not meet publication standards b ecause of highly sampling variability or poor response quality.

1 "Truck" as a single mode includes shipments that were made by only private truck, only for-hire truck, or a combination of private and for-hire truck.

2 Estimates for pipeline exclude shipments of crude petroleum.

SOURCE:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics (USDOT) and U.S. Census Bureau, 2002 Commodity Flow Survey, Hazmat Data, December 2004.