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.

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 44,555 100.0 21,947 100.0 3,906 100.0 416
Single modes 41,871 94.0 21,606 98.4 3,753 96.1 301
Truck2 40,230 90.3 21,510 98.0 3,663 93.8 270
Rail S S 92 0.4 87 2.2 1,081
All other Single modes 335 0.8 4 4 1,102
Multiple modes 2,166 4.9 119 0.5 101 2.6 746
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,062 4.6 37 0.2 27 0.7 746
All other Multiple modes 104 0.2 81 0.4 74 1.9 1,171
Other and unknown modes 518 1.2 222 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 791 100.0 S S 116 100.0 236
Single modes 773 97.7 S S 116 99.5 244
Truck2 773 97.7 S S 116 99.5 244
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 39

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 5,845 100.0 2,628 100.0 309 100.0 180
Single modes 5,845 100.0 2,628 100.0 309 100.0 180
Truck2 5,845 100.0 2,628 100.0 309 100.0 180
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes

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 19 100.0 2,535 100.0 35 100.0 14
Single modes 19 99.8 2,531 99.9 35 100.0 14
Truck2 19 99.8 2,531 99.9 35 100.0 14
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 5

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 26
Single modes S S S S S S 26
Truck2 S S S S S S 26
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
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 7,561 100.0 3,319 100.0 1,110 100.0 268
Single modes 7,466 98.7 3,299 99.4 1,083 97.5 215
Truck2 7,459 98.7 3,294 99.2 1,077 97.0 212
Rail S S S S S S 2,450
All other Single modes 2 S S S S 954
Multiple modes 90 1.2 S S S S 634
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 3 0.1 3 0.2 625
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,219
Other and unknown modes S S S S 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 12,237 100.0 1,605 100.0 431 100.0 652
Single modes 11,850 96.8 1,593 99.3 423 98.1 351
Truck2 11,831 96.7 1,592 99.2 422 97.9 323
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,218
Multiple modes 317 2.6 8 0.5 7 1.6 939
Parcel, USPS or courier 317 2.6 8 0.5 7 1.6 939
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 314

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 4,866 100.0 S S 883 100.0 270
Single modes 4,329 89.0 S S 838 94.9 285
Truck2 4,315 88.7 S S 837 94.8 275
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,029
Multiple modes S S 3 0.1 2 0.2 389
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 3 0.1 2 0.2 389
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 9,368 100.0 939 100.0 543 100.0 530
Single modes 7,893 84.2 823 87.7 475 87.6 565
Truck2 6,305 67.3 734 78.2 393 72.4 479
Rail S S S S 81 14.9 1,006
All other Single modes S S 2 0.2 S S 1,102
Multiple modes 1,362 14.5 82 8.7 62 11.5 774
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 15 1.6 12 2.2 774
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 755
Other and unknown modes 113 1.2 S S 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 2,117 100.0 542 100.0 252 100.0 493
Single modes 1,948 92.0 529 97.6 248 98.2 354
Truck2 1,935 91.4 529 97.6 248 98.2 348
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 769
Multiple modes 155 7.3 7 1.3 S S 631
Parcel, USPS or courier 155 7.3 7 1.3 S S 631
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 14

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 100.0 S
Single modes S S S S 96.2 74
Truck2 S S S S 96.2 74
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 737
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 737
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 3

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.