USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Site Notification

Site Notification

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]

Excel | CSV

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 126,364 100.0 55,227 100.0 10,584 100.0 521
Single modes 96,946 76.7 53,333 96.6 9,751 92.1 188
Truck2 93,676 74.1 51,896 94.0 8,930 84.4 166
Rail S S S S S S 1,747
All other Single modes 2,951 2.3 17 18 0.2 1,459
Multiple modes 24,712 19.6 865 1.6 544 5.1 815
Parcel, USPS or courier 24,374 19.3 736 1.3 337 3.2 815
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,696
Other and unknown modes 4,707 3.7 1,029 1.9 290 2.7 226

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 4,655 100.0 1,697 100.0 492 100.0 S
Single modes 4,549 97.7 1,681 99.0 478 97.2 S
Truck2 4,530 97.3 1,679 98.9 474 96.3 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,721
Multiple modes S S S S S S 822
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 822
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 248
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 55

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 7,366 100.0 4,462 100.0 975 100.0 236
Single modes 6,971 94.6 4,340 97.3 937 96.1 64
Truck2 6,971 94.6 4,340 97.3 937 96.1 64
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 637
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 637
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 196 2.7 S S S S S

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 125 100.0 12,837 100.0 149 100.0 16
Single modes 119 95.2 12,555 97.8 149 99.4 16
Truck2 119 95.2 12,555 97.8 149 99.4 16
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 86
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 86
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 4

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 3,294 100.0 13,386 100.0 273 100.0 S
Single modes 3,271 99.3 13,350 99.7 264 96.8 S
Truck2 3,271 99.3 13,350 99.7 264 96.8 S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,320
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,320
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S

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 22,179 100.0 3,667 100.0 1,705 100.0 376
Single modes 17,286 77.9 3,006 82.0 1,408 82.6 281
Truck2 16,320 73.6 2,993 81.6 1,389 81.5 254
Rail S S S S S S 1,371
All other Single modes 936 4.2 2 3 0.2 1,599
Multiple modes 4,486 20.2 S S S S 480
Parcel, USPS or courier 4,157 18.7 S S 64 3.7 479
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,642
Other and unknown modes 406 1.8 S S 28 1.7 S

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 24,978 100.0 7,311 100.0 S S 662
Single modes 22,518 90.2 7,104 97.2 S S 208
Truck2 22,332 89.4 6,690 91.5 S S 204
Rail S S S S S S 1,990
All other Single modes 6 1 1 1,531
Multiple modes 2,196 8.8 95 1.3 69 1.4 863
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,196 8.8 95 1.3 69 1.4 863
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,274
Other and unknown modes 263 1.1 112 1.5 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 10,323 100.0 4,725 100.0 482 100.0 522
Single modes 8,279 80.2 4,558 96.5 376 78.0 282
Truck2 7,733 74.9 3,558 75.3 354 73.4 255
Rail S S S S S S 175
All other Single modes S S 4 S S 1,285
Multiple modes 1,709 16.6 31 0.7 21 4.4 787
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,709 16.6 31 0.7 21 4.4 787
All other Multiple modes
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 30,570 100.0 572 100.0 311 100.0 589
Single modes 14,609 47.8 394 68.8 235 75.5 609
Truck2 13,124 42.9 388 67.7 230 74.1 390
Rail
All other Single modes 1,485 4.9 6 1.1 5 1.5 1,461
Multiple modes 13,473 44.1 99 17.2 63 20.2 687
Parcel, USPS or courier 13,472 44.1 99 17.2 62 20.0 687
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 7,920
Other and unknown modes 2,487 8.1 S S S S 276

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 22,657 100.0 6,494 100.0 1,182 100.0 672
Single modes 19,138 84.5 6,268 96.5 1,014 85.8 157
Truck2 19,070 84.2 6,267 96.5 1,013 85.7 156
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,029
Multiple modes 2,538 11.2 90 1.4 98 8.2 1,108
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,538 11.2 90 1.4 98 8.2 1,108
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2
Other and unknown modes 981 4.3 135 2.1 S S S

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 S S S S S S 424
Single modes S S S S S S S
Truck2 S S S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 961
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 961
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 464

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.