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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 60,096 100.0 45,110 100.0 7,135 100.0 432
Single modes 55,233 91.9 43,110 95.6 6,924 97.0 274
Truck2 53,940 89.8 42,580 94.4 6,690 93.8 260
Rail 173 0.3 514 1.1 216 3.0 1,031
All other Single modes 1,120 1.9 15 18 0.3 1,031
Multiple modes 3,679 6.1 147 0.3 120 1.7 700
Parcel, USPS or courier 3,502 5.8 126 0.3 75 1.0 697
All other Multiple modes S S 22 45 0.6 3,670
Other and unknown modes 1,184 2.0 S S 91 1.3 106

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 682 100.0 591 100.0 132 100.0 113
Single modes 512 75.1 479 81.1 109 82.2 104
Truck2 507 74.4 462 78.2 104 78.6 104
Rail S S S S S S 279
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 297

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 10,695 100.0 3,060 100.0 925 100.0 S
Single modes 10,673 99.8 3,022 98.8 919 99.4 S
Truck2 10,600 99.1 2,727 89.1 756 81.7 S
Rail 73 0.7 295 9.7 163 17.6 552
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 950
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 950
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 135

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 10,124 100.0 191 100.0 37
Single modes S S 10,113 99.9 191 99.9 37
Truck2 S S 10,113 99.9 191 99.9 37
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 22

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 821 100.0 3,818 100.0 236 100.0 S
Single modes 821 100.0 3,818 100.0 236 100.0 S
Truck2 821 100.0 3,818 100.0 236 100.0 S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,721
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 2,721
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 8,942 100.0 3,337 100.0 1,396 100.0 275
Single modes 8,443 94.4 3,300 98.9 1,383 99.0 215
Truck2 8,403 94.0 3,299 98.8 1,381 98.9 210
Rail S S S S S S 621
All other Single modes S S S S S S 785
Multiple modes 483 5.4 S S 13 0.9 359
Parcel, USPS or courier 483 5.4 S S 13 0.9 359
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S 2 S S 135

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 15,490 100.0 7,209 100.0 2,096 100.0 461
Single modes 14,394 92.9 7,126 98.9 2,040 97.3 364
Truck2 14,160 91.4 7,105 98.6 1,989 94.9 359
Rail S S S S S S 1,434
All other Single modes S S 8 0.1 S S 1,174
Multiple modes 685 4.4 44 0.6 50 2.4 656
Parcel, USPS or courier 565 3.6 34 0.5 27 1.3 653
All other Multiple modes S S 10 0.1 24 1.1 2,176
Other and unknown modes 412 2.7 39 0.5 6 0.3 99

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 6,916 100.0 S S 1,138 100.0 577
Single modes 5,691 82.3 S S 1,084 95.2 258
Truck2 5,659 81.8 S S 1,074 94.3 249
Rail S S S S S S S
All other Single modes S S S S S S 876
Multiple modes 933 13.5 S S 15 1.3 819
Parcel, USPS or courier 932 13.5 S S 14 1.3 819
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 5,047
Other and unknown modes 292 4.2 S S 39 3.4 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 6,292 100.0 829 100.0 251 100.0 507
Single modes 5,173 82.2 798 96.2 233 92.6 311
Truck2 4,286 68.1 793 95.6 229 91.3 206
Rail
All other Single modes 887 14.1 S S S S 1,053
Multiple modes 987 15.7 15 1.8 12 4.7 784
Parcel, USPS or courier 987 15.7 15 1.8 12 4.7 784
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 131 2.1 17 2.0 7 2.7 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 9,819 100.0 2,864 100.0 753 100.0 480
Single modes 9,092 92.6 2,815 98.3 714 94.8 332
Truck2 9,068 92.4 2,815 98.3 713 94.7 326
Rail S S S S S S 2,972
All other Single modes S S 1,100
Multiple modes 571 5.8 25 0.9 S S 770
Parcel, USPS or courier 516 5.3 S S S S 757
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 4,253
Other and unknown modes 156 1.6 S S S S 193

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 166 100.0 51 100.0 S S S
Single modes S S 51 99.2 S S S
Truck2 S S 51 99.2 S S S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,043
Multiple modes 5 2.8 S S 0.2 S
Parcel, USPS or courier 5 2.8 S S 0.2 S
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.