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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 224,325 100.0 158,066 100.0 32,467 100.0 576
Single modes 172,413 76.9 153,266 97.0 26,547 81.8 210
Truck2 162,756 72.6 116,364 73.6 20,292 62.5 187
Rail 1,120 0.5 2,980 1.9 2,478 7.6 958
All other Single modes 8,536 3.8 33,922 21.5 3,777 11.6 1,420
Multiple modes 48,407 21.6 2,205 1.4 S S 908
Parcel, USPS or courier 47,472 21.2 832 0.5 655 2.0 908
All other Multiple modes 934 0.4 S S S S 2,214
Other and unknown modes 3,505 1.6 2,596 1.6 S S 268

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 4,440 100.0 3,327 100.0 1,219 100.0 S
Single modes 3,989 89.8 3,184 95.7 S S S
Truck2 3,989 89.8 3,184 95.7 S S S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 507
Parcel, USPS or courier 28 0.6 S S S S 380
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,431
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 1

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 20,898 100.0 14,345 100.0 3,836 100.0 S
Single modes 20,261 97.0 14,268 99.5 3,721 97.0 S
Truck2 20,197 96.6 14,251 99.3 3,706 96.6 S
Rail S S S S S S 621
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,126
Multiple modes S S 47 0.3 74 1.9 617
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 21 0.1 13 0.3 612
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,800
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 2,274

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 43,247 100.0 2,836 100.0 S
Single modes S S 42,500 98.3 2,831 99.8 S
Truck2 S S 42,061 97.3 S S S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 74
Multiple modes S S S S S S 272
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 272
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 6

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 10,472 100.0 50,900 100.0 4,381 100.0 107
Single modes 10,384 99.2 50,653 99.5 4,348 99.3 82
Truck2 4,394 42.0 17,630 34.6 996 22.7 79
Rail 91 0.9 S S S S 1,294
All other Single modes 5,900 56.3 32,769 64.4 3,176 72.5 125
Multiple modes S S S S S S 552
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 525
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,064
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 70

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 78,992 100.0 12,978 100.0 12,439 100.0 809
Single modes S S 10,667 82.2 7,741 62.2 373
Truck2 S S 8,533 65.8 5,775 46.4 355
Rail S S S S S S 1,318
All other Single modes 647 0.8 S S S S 1,201
Multiple modes 12,522 15.9 S S S S 930
Parcel, USPS or courier 12,283 15.5 118 0.9 102 0.8 930
All other Multiple modes 240 0.3 S S S S 2,043
Other and unknown modes 523 0.7 S S S S 560

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 23,872 100.0 5,193 100.0 2,018 100.0 676
Single modes 18,507 77.5 4,784 92.1 1,818 90.1 455
Truck2 18,381 77.0 4,760 91.7 1,805 89.4 418
Rail S S S S S S 634
All other Single modes 99 0.4 2 4 0.2 1,412
Multiple modes 4,720 19.8 217 4.2 160 7.9 865
Parcel, USPS or courier 4,713 19.7 217 4.2 159 7.9 864
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,168
Other and unknown modes 645 2.7 192 3.7 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 14,654 100.0 15,953 100.0 3,117 100.0 382
Single modes 10,892 74.3 15,737 98.6 2,993 96.0 233
Truck2 10,512 71.7 14,481 90.8 2,126 68.2 181
Rail 182 1.2 1,158 7.3 746 23.9 571
All other Single modes 198 1.4 S S S S 1,368
Multiple modes 3,139 21.4 58 0.4 28 0.9 546
Parcel, USPS or courier 3,138 21.4 57 0.4 28 0.9 546
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,398
Other and unknown modes 624 4.3 158 1.0 95 3.1 328

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 38,739 100.0 2,183 100.0 917 100.0 797
Single modes 18,617 48.1 1,899 87.0 708 77.2 279
Truck2 17,372 44.8 1,895 86.8 700 76.4 S
Rail S S S S S S 1,404
All other Single modes 1,243 3.2 S S S S 1,750
Multiple modes 19,409 50.1 234 10.7 189 20.7 998
Parcel, USPS or courier 19,383 50.0 223 10.2 169 18.5 998
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,827
Other and unknown modes 714 1.8 50 2.3 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 29,710 100.0 9,791 100.0 1,686 100.0 651
Single modes 21,438 72.2 9,425 96.3 1,346 79.8 218
Truck2 21,003 70.7 9,421 96.2 1,342 79.6 189
Rail
All other Single modes S S 4 S S 1,316
Multiple modes 7,400 24.9 252 2.6 269 16.0 992
Parcel, USPS or courier 7,264 24.4 190 1.9 182 10.8 991
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,466
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 S S S S 19 100.0 S
Single modes S S S S 19 98.1 S
Truck2 S S S S 19 98.1 S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S 1 0.5 1.9 S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 1 0.5 1.9 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.