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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 26,428 100.0 25,983 100.0 4,855 100.0 405
Single modes 23,665 89.5 25,122 96.7 4,522 93.1 155
Truck2 18,084 68.4 23,455 90.3 2,472 50.9 133
Rail 5,398 20.4 S S S S 909
All other Single modes 184 0.7 6 8 0.2 1,479
Multiple modes 2,448 9.3 119 0.5 93 1.9 653
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,412 9.1 110 0.4 77 1.6 652
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,277
Other and unknown modes 315 1.2 S S S S 83

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 911 100.0 969 100.0 S S S
Single modes 907 99.5 968 99.9 S S S
Truck2 736 80.8 777 80.2 180 60.8 S
Rail S S S S S S 567
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 98
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 98
All other Multiple modes
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 1,517 100.0 S S S S 154
Single modes 1,431 94.4 S S S S S
Truck2 1,425 94.0 S S S S S
Rail S S S S S S 776
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 684
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 684
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 8

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 128 100.0 S S 72 100.0 S
Single modes 121 94.4 2,718 88.3 70 96.7 S
Truck2 121 94.4 2,718 88.3 70 96.7 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 7

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 21
Single modes S S S S S S 22
Truck2 S S S S S S 22
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 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 5,761 100.0 1,034 100.0 778 100.0 411
Single modes 5,544 96.2 1,017 98.4 760 97.8 S
Truck2 5,401 93.7 737 71.3 549 70.7 S
Rail 139 2.4 280 27.1 211 27.1 757
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,065
Multiple modes 208 3.6 S S S S 997
Parcel, USPS or courier 183 3.2 5 0.5 3 0.4 996
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,480
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 758 100.0 634 100.0 77 100.0 478
Single modes 430 56.6 603 95.1 69 90.1 96
Truck2 428 56.4 603 95.0 69 90.0 87
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 752
Multiple modes 279 36.8 S S 7 8.7 766
Parcel, USPS or courier 279 36.8 S S 7 8.7 766
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 38

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 4,546 100.0 S S 704 100.0 425
Single modes 3,635 80.0 S S 430 61.0 S
Truck2 3,521 77.5 S S 423 60.1 S
Rail
All other Single modes 114 2.5 5 6 0.9 1,299
Multiple modes 768 16.9 45 0.3 39 5.5 704
Parcel, USPS or courier 757 16.7 45 0.3 37 5.2 701
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,909
Other and unknown modes 143 3.1 S S S S 269

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 8,901 100.0 1,792 100.0 S S 388
Single modes 8,299 93.2 1,777 99.2 S S S
Truck2 3,165 35.6 606 33.8 S S 198
Rail S S S S S S 1,372
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,760
Multiple modes 531 6.0 10 0.6 8 0.4 670
Parcel, USPS or courier 531 6.0 10 0.6 8 0.4 670
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S 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 3,523 100.0 905 100.0 416 100.0 473
Single modes 2,922 82.9 877 96.8 398 95.7 146
Truck2 2,913 82.7 876 96.7 397 95.6 133
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,055
Multiple modes 585 16.6 27 3.0 18 4.3 577
Parcel, USPS or courier 584 16.6 27 2.9 18 4.3 577
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 5
Other and unknown modes 16 0.5 2 0.2 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 28 100.0 S S S S 557
Single modes 21 75.3 S S S S S
Truck2 S S S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,400
Multiple modes S S S S S S 738
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 738
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S

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.