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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 73,522 100.0 58,586 100.0 11,876 100.0 631
Single modes 60,858 82.8 56,999 97.3 10,831 91.2 151
Truck2 58,439 79.5 52,708 90.0 8,537 71.9 135
Rail 1,762 2.4 3,237 5.5 2,221 18.7 769
All other Single modes 658 0.9 S S 73 0.6 2,140
Multiple modes 9,870 13.4 603 1.0 S S 806
Parcel, USPS or courier 9,310 12.7 273 0.5 179 1.5 806
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,233
Other and unknown modes 2,794 3.8 985 1.7 375 3.2 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 777 100.0 1,073 100.0 S S 232
Single modes 776 99.9 1,072 100.0 S S 232
Truck2 720 92.7 492 45.9 S S 232
Rail S S S S S S 739
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 134

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 4,373 100.0 4,196 100.0 1,570 100.0 84
Single modes 4,232 96.8 4,042 96.3 1,289 82.1 69
Truck2 4,105 93.9 3,406 81.2 795 50.6 65
Rail 127 2.9 636 15.2 S S 769
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,793
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 361
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,046
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 263

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 157 100.0 13,455 100.0 193 100.0 15
Single modes 156 99.6 13,453 100.0 192 99.4 15
Truck2 156 99.6 13,453 100.0 192 99.4 15
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 831

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 2,428 100.0 9,581 100.0 498 100.0 70
Single modes 2,424 99.9 9,581 100.0 498 100.0 70
Truck2 2,154 88.7 7,946 82.9 327 65.8 70
Rail S S S S S S 182
All other Single modes S S S S S S 58
Multiple modes S S S S S S 62
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 62
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 9,144 100.0 3,940 100.0 1,651 100.0 340
Single modes 6,154 67.3 3,654 92.7 1,454 88.1 215
Truck2 5,355 58.6 3,244 82.3 756 45.8 207
Rail S S S S S S 1,846
All other Single modes 7 S S S S 1,555
Multiple modes S S 24 0.6 11 0.6 543
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 24 0.6 11 0.6 543
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 464

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 9,352 100.0 4,128 100.0 S S 855
Single modes 6,057 64.8 3,832 92.8 S S 245
Truck2 6,057 64.8 3,832 92.8 S S 244
Rail
All other Single modes S S 1,578
Multiple modes 3,195 34.2 S S S S 876
Parcel, USPS or courier 3,111 33.3 109 2.6 97 3.7 876
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,038
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 20,174 100.0 S S 2,830 100.0 344
Single modes 18,256 90.5 S S 2,628 92.9 256
Truck2 18,144 89.9 S S 2,605 92.0 205
Rail S S S S S S 1,059
All other Single modes S S 1 2 2,088
Multiple modes 1,105 5.5 S S S S 525
Parcel, USPS or courier 767 3.8 17 0.1 9 0.3 523
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,621
Other and unknown modes S S 468 2.9 S S 285

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 13,785 100.0 2,739 100.0 1,002 100.0 210
Single modes 10,549 76.5 2,497 91.1 920 91.9 S
Truck2 9,566 69.4 1,856 67.7 591 59.0 S
Rail 679 4.9 639 23.3 322 32.2 510
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,459
Multiple modes 2,388 17.3 S S 48 4.7 398
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,377 17.2 S S 42 4.2 395
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 4,765
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 59

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 13,063 100.0 3,556 100.0 826 100.0 238
Single modes 12,038 92.1 3,484 98.0 801 96.9 103
Truck2 11,975 91.7 3,156 88.7 717 86.8 99
Rail 61 0.5 328 9.2 83 10.1 450
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,190
Multiple modes 916 7.0 47 1.3 20 2.4 447
Parcel, USPS or courier 916 7.0 47 1.3 20 2.4 447
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 110 0.8 S S 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 268 100.0 35 100.0 S S 423
Single modes S S 26 73.4 S S 320
Truck2 S S S S S S 316
Rail S S S S S S 889
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 928
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 928
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 4

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.