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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 46,433 100.0 34,590 100.0 5,938 100.0 579
Single modes 42,444 91.4 33,867 97.9 5,593 94.2 224
Truck2 41,784 90.0 32,298 93.4 4,581 77.1 208
Rail 488 1.1 1,553 4.5 1,007 17.0 675
All other Single modes 172 0.4 S S S S 1,390
Multiple modes 2,945 6.3 233 0.7 129 2.2 890
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,878 6.2 62 0.2 45 0.8 890
All other Multiple modes 67 0.1 S S 84 1.4 S
Other and unknown modes 1,043 2.2 490 1.4 216 3.6 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 693 100.0 262 100.0 S S 326
Single modes 693 100.0 262 100.0 S S 331
Truck2 692 99.9 262 100.0 S S 328
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 825
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 3

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 3,152 100.0 3,086 100.0 701 100.0 213
Single modes 3,126 99.2 3,070 99.5 685 97.7 212
Truck2 3,121 99.0 3,069 99.4 685 97.6 207
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 4,128
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,005
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,005
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 S S S S S S S
Single modes S S S S S S S
Truck2 S S S S S S S
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 9

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 933 100.0 3,808 100.0 191 100.0 S
Single modes 931 99.8 3,801 99.8 190 99.8 S
Truck2 931 99.8 3,801 99.8 190 99.8 S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 405
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 405
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 6

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 2,046 100.0 498 100.0 202 100.0 766
Single modes 980 47.9 476 95.4 193 95.7 282
Truck2 971 47.4 458 91.8 181 89.6 280
Rail 9 0.4 18 3.6 12 6.1 592
All other Single modes S S S S S S 828
Multiple modes S S S S 8 3.8 837
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S 7 3.3 837
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 318
Other and unknown modes 17 0.8 6 1.1 1 0.4 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 2,391 100.0 3,711 100.0 1,403 100.0 952
Single modes 1,883 78.8 3,506 94.5 1,202 85.7 119
Truck2 1,488 62.2 2,647 71.3 534 38.1 102
Rail S S S S S S 852
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,471
Multiple modes 366 15.3 S S S S 1,155
Parcel, USPS or courier 362 15.2 S S S S 1,154
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,168
Other and unknown modes 142 5.9 187 5.0 180 12.8 889

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 2,799 100.0 7,734 100.0 1,013 100.0 321
Single modes 2,449 87.5 7,525 97.3 951 93.8 131
Truck2 2,382 85.1 7,245 93.7 805 79.4 129
Rail 67 2.4 280 3.6 146 14.4 495
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,069
Multiple modes S S S S S S 699
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 7 4 0.4 701
All other Multiple modes 16 0.6 S S S S 376
Other and unknown modes 127 4.5 67 0.9 8 0.8 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 S S S S 658 100.0 452
Single modes S S S S 637 96.7 368
Truck2 S S S S 636 96.7 326
Rail
All other Single modes 116 0.4 1,416
Multiple modes S S 22 1.1 13 2.0 714
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 22 1.1 13 2.0 714
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 328 1.3 17 0.9 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 8,115 100.0 3,287 100.0 573 100.0 317
Single modes 7,344 90.5 3,070 93.4 539 94.1 198
Truck2 7,278 89.7 2,659 80.9 353 61.7 191
Rail 36 0.4 412 12.5 186 32.4 436
All other Single modes S S S S 984
Multiple modes S S 18 0.5 16 2.7 819
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 5 0.1 S S 818
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,108
Other and unknown modes S S 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 12 100.0 18 100.0 S S 516
Single modes S S S S S S 243
Truck2 S S S S S S 243
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S 0.2 0.8 578
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 0.2 0.8 578
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.