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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 42,815 100.0 24,383 100.0 2,817 100.0 1,187
Single modes 30,831 72.0 23,867 97.9 2,499 88.7 252
Truck2 29,720 69.4 23,465 96.2 2,218 78.7 116
Rail S S 395 1.6 270 9.6 758
All other Single modes 1,084 2.5 6 11 0.4 1,896
Multiple modes 10,751 25.1 223 0.9 235 8.3 1,324
Parcel, USPS or courier 10,748 25.1 222 0.9 233 8.3 1,324
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,479
Other and unknown modes 1,234 2.9 294 1.2 83 2.9 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 S S S S S S 68
Single modes S S S S S S 68
Truck2 S S S S S S 64
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 750
Multiple modes S S S S S S 312
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 312
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 2,635 100.0 871 100.0 221 100.0 S
Single modes 2,624 99.6 871 99.9 219 99.3 S
Truck2 2,624 99.6 871 99.9 219 99.3 S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,110
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,110
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 1,660

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 109 100.0 8,751 100.0 423 100.0 32
Single modes 108 99.4 8,660 99.0 418 98.6 31
Truck2 99 90.9 8,413 96.1 279 65.9 28
Rail 9 8.5 247 2.8 138 32.7 559
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 59

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 1,537 100.0 4,588 100.0 146 100.0 96
Single modes 1,520 98.9 4,519 98.5 146 99.6 96
Truck2 1,520 98.9 4,519 98.5 146 99.6 96
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 127
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 127
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 22

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 7,208 100.0 2,095 100.0 309 100.0 353
Single modes 5,517 76.5 2,034 97.1 277 89.6 S
Truck2 5,233 72.6 2,034 97.1 275 89.1 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S 1 1 0.4 1,780
Multiple modes 1,466 20.3 S S S S 998
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,465 20.3 S S S S 997
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,207
Other and unknown modes S S S S 2 0.6 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 4,563 100.0 1,314 100.0 337 100.0 886
Single modes 3,138 68.8 1,223 93.1 270 80.3 403
Truck2 3,131 68.6 1,223 93.1 270 80.2 402
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,069
Multiple modes 966 21.2 30 2.2 26 7.6 1,061
Parcel, USPS or courier 966 21.2 30 2.2 26 7.6 1,061
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 459 10.1 62 4.7 41 12.1 324

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 6,559 100.0 S S 761 100.0 S
Single modes 5,103 77.8 S S 726 95.3 S
Truck2 4,961 75.6 S S 591 77.7 S
Rail S S S S S S 973
All other Single modes S S 1 S S 1,710
Multiple modes 1,294 19.7 24 0.6 18 2.4 628
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,294 19.7 24 0.6 18 2.4 628
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 162 2.5 27 0.7 S S 658

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 11,624 100.0 252 100.0 235 100.0 987
Single modes 4,945 42.5 195 77.3 170 72.4 902
Truck2 4,319 37.2 191 75.8 164 69.8 S
Rail
All other Single modes 625 5.4 S S S S 1,903
Multiple modes 6,312 54.3 45 17.8 48 20.6 1,065
Parcel, USPS or courier 6,312 54.3 45 17.8 48 20.6 1,065
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S 13 5.0 S S 271

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 8,145 100.0 S S 366 100.0 1,311
Single modes S S S S S S S
Truck2 S S S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S 1,678
Multiple modes 696 8.6 95 3.6 S S 1,353
Parcel, USPS or courier 696 8.6 95 3.6 S S 1,353
All other Multiple modes
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 33 100.0 11 100.0 5 100.0 S
Single modes 30 93.1 11 99.0 S S S
Truck2 30 93.1 11 99.0 S S S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 927
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 927
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.