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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 64,980 100.0 64,110 100.0 19,888 100.0 417
Single modes 52,670 81.1 62,762 97.9 19,102 96.1 167
Truck2 48,440 74.5 48,485 75.6 9,427 47.4 128
Rail 2,494 3.8 S S S S 520
All other Single modes 1,736 2.7 5,097 8.0 5,231 26.3 1,203
Multiple modes 11,235 17.3 463 0.7 435 2.2 785
Parcel, USPS or courier 11,077 17.0 386 0.6 305 1.5 785
All other Multiple modes 157 0.2 77 0.1 129 0.7 1,612
Other and unknown modes 1,075 1.7 885 1.4 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 3,322 100.0 8,525 100.0 7,609 100.0 429
Single modes 3,322 100.0 8,525 100.0 7,609 100.0 429
Truck2 S S 877 10.3 S S 422
Rail S S S S S S 470
All other Single modes 552 16.6 3,946 46.3 4,964 65.2 1,246
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes

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 6,863 100.0 8,519 100.0 3,411 100.0 S
Single modes 6,828 99.5 8,491 99.7 3,373 98.9 S
Truck2 6,630 96.6 8,173 95.9 3,136 92.0 S
Rail 198 2.9 318 3.7 236 6.9 1,141
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 266
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,589
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 754

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 111 100.0 15,508 100.0 331 100.0 21
Single modes 109 98.2 15,147 97.7 327 98.9 21
Truck2 109 98.2 15,147 97.7 327 98.9 21
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 2 1.8 361 2.3 4 1.1 8

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 S S S S S S 109
Single modes S S S S S S 108
Truck2 S S S S S S 108
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,201
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 2,201
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 5,691 100.0 S S S S 530
Single modes 5,166 90.8 S S S S S
Truck2 4,328 76.0 4,118 46.1 835 34.4 S
Rail 666 11.7 S S S S 403
All other Single modes 173 3.0 S S 1 847
Multiple modes S S S S S S 813
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 812
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,358
Other and unknown modes 53 0.9 27 0.3 S S 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 5,408 100.0 3,975 100.0 897 100.0 629
Single modes 4,097 75.8 3,829 96.3 807 90.1 510
Truck2 4,087 75.6 3,829 96.3 807 90.0 500
Rail S S S S S S 2,557
All other Single modes 10 0.2 1 1 942
Multiple modes 1,034 19.1 98 2.5 76 8.5 712
Parcel, USPS or courier 969 17.9 72 1.8 41 4.6 711
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,293
Other and unknown modes S S S S 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 12,518 100.0 7,769 100.0 1,398 100.0 416
Single modes 10,572 84.5 7,672 98.7 1,358 97.2 205
Truck2 9,430 75.3 6,507 83.8 900 64.4 190
Rail 971 7.8 1,155 14.9 441 31.6 394
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,656
Multiple modes 1,877 15.0 48 0.6 24 1.7 587
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,877 15.0 48 0.6 24 1.7 587
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 69 0.6 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 18,593 100.0 1,102 100.0 432 100.0 354
Single modes 12,872 69.2 956 86.7 334 77.2 S
Truck2 12,029 64.7 927 84.2 313 72.5 S
Rail S S S S S S 610
All other Single modes 701 3.8 7 0.6 7 1.5 1,272
Multiple modes 5,129 27.6 84 7.6 80 18.6 831
Parcel, USPS or courier 5,129 27.6 84 7.6 80 18.6 831
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 592 3.2 62 5.7 S S 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 9,618 100.0 3,507 100.0 1,088 100.0 524
Single modes 6,882 71.6 3,014 85.9 669 61.5 S
Truck2 6,761 70.3 2,848 81.2 563 51.7 S
Rail S S S S S S 539
All other Single modes S S S S S S 970
Multiple modes 2,678 27.8 174 5.0 159 14.6 893
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,644 27.5 154 4.4 140 12.8 893
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 924
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 310

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 160 100.0 S S S S 453
Single modes S S S S S S S
Truck2 S S S S S S S
Rail S S S S S S 1,508
All other Single modes S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S 531
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 531
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes

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.