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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Table 6. Shipment Characteristics by Commodity Group and Mode of Transportation for CBSA of Origin: 2002

Monday, July 2, 2012

Table 6. Shipment Characteristics by Commodity Group and Mode of Transportation for CBSA of Origin: 2002

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

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All Commodities

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes 70,963 100.0 105,639 100.0 10,383 100.0 305
Single modes 61,827 87.1 104,232 98.7 9,993 96.2 103
Truck2 59,764 84.2 99,466 94.2 7,094 68.3 88
Rail 1,425 2.0 4,291 4.1 2,857 27.5 769
All other Single modes 638 0.9 S S S S 1,797
Multiple modes 5,965 8.4 336 0.3 328 3.2 680
Parcel, USPS or courier 5,754 8.1 205 0.2 135 1.3 679
All other Multiple modes 211 0.3 131 0.1 194 1.9 S
Other and unknown modes 3,171 4.5 1,070 1.0 S S S

SCTG 01-05, Agriculture products and fish

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes S S S S S S 199
Single modes S S S S S S 43
Truck2 S S S S S S 43
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 906
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 906
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S

SCTG 06-09, Grains, alcohol, and tobacco products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes 6,460 100.0 6,661 100.0 1,314 100.0 S
Single modes 6,116 94.7 6,317 94.8 1,244 94.6 S
Truck2 6,027 93.3 6,155 92.4 1,178 89.6 S
Rail S S S S S S 463
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,328
Multiple modes S S S S S S 699
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 821
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 555
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 31

SCTG 10-14, Stones, non-metallic minerals, and metallic ores

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes S S S S S S S
Single modes S S S S S S S
Truck2 S S S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 887
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes

SCTG 15-19, Coal and petroleum products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes 376 100.0 1,395 100.0 39 100.0 S
Single modes 376 100.0 1,395 100.0 39 100.0 26
Truck2 376 100.0 1,395 100.0 39 100.0 26
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 780
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 780
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes

SCTG 20-24, Pharmaceutical and chemical products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes 7,837 100.0 5,584 100.0 2,079 100.0 362
Single modes 7,393 94.3 5,498 98.5 1,958 94.2 295
Truck2 6,946 88.6 5,232 93.7 1,713 82.4 274
Rail S S S S S S 921
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,699
Multiple modes 415 5.3 72 1.3 S S 527
Parcel, USPS or courier 335 4.3 S S 8 0.4 522
All other Multiple modes 80 1.0 56 1.0 S S 2,136
Other and unknown modes 29 0.4 S S S S 164

SCTG 25-30, Logs, wood products, and textile and leather

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes 14,327 100.0 2,670 100.0 447 100.0 421
Single modes S S 2,588 96.9 412 92.3 250
Truck2 S S 2,587 96.9 412 92.2 177
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,772
Multiple modes 1,045 7.3 67 2.5 31 7.0 580
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,045 7.3 67 2.5 31 7.0 580
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 36
Other and unknown modes S S 15 0.6 S S S

SCTG 31-34, Base metal and machinery

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes 5,786 100.0 10,604 100.0 3,131 100.0 360
Single modes 5,413 93.6 10,545 99.4 3,102 99.1 245
Truck2 4,844 83.7 8,686 81.9 1,580 50.5 200
Rail S S S S S S 835
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,963
Multiple modes 290 5.0 S S S S 661
Parcel, USPS or courier 285 4.9 10 0.1 5 0.2 659
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,303
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S

SCTG 35-38, Electronic, motorized vehicles, and precision instruments

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes 10,306 100.0 746 100.0 134 100.0 566
Single modes 4,431 43.0 347 46.6 115 85.8 S
Truck2 3,980 38.6 347 46.5 113 84.6 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S 1 0.1 S S 1,891
Multiple modes 3,522 34.2 39 5.3 18 13.5 674
Parcel, USPS or courier 3,522 34.2 39 5.3 18 13.5 674
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 2,352 22.8 359 48.1 1 0.7 S

SCTG 39-43, Furniture, mixed freight and misc manufactured products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes 9,949 100.0 S S S S 153
Single modes 9,471 95.2 S S S S S
Truck2 8,981 90.3 2,765 57.4 541 34.0 S
Rail S S S S S S 734
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,975
Multiple modes 434 4.4 15 0.3 6 0.4 473
Parcel, USPS or courier 430 4.3 15 0.3 6 0.4 471
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 5,252
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 415

Commodity Unknown

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
(million $)
Percent of total 2002
(thousands)
Percent of total 2002
(millions)
Percent of total
All modes 168 100.0 53 100.0 S S 899
Single modes 76 45.2 46 87.1 S S 484
Truck2 75 44.7 46 87.1 S S 189
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 4,047
Multiple modes S S S S S S 903
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 903
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 17

KEY:
– Represents data cell equal to zero or less than 1 unit of measure.
S Estimate does not meet publication standards because of high sampling variability or poor response quality.

1 Ton-miles estimates are based on estimated distances traveled along a modeled transportation network. See "Mileage Calculations" section for additional information.
2 "Truck" as a single mode includes shipments that were made by only private Truck, only for-hire Truck, or combination of private Truck and for-hire Truck.

NOTES: Value-of-shipments estimates have not been adjusted for price changes. Appendix B tables provide estimated measures of sampling variability. The Introduction and appendixes give information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions. Links to this information on the Internet may be found at www.census.gov/cfs.
Coverage for the 2002 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) differs from the previous surveys due to a change from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification System to the 1997 North American Industry Classification System and other survey improvements. Therefore, data users are urged to use caution when comparing 2002 CFS estimates with estimates from prior years.

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