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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 47,102 100.0 21,439 100.0 2,857 100.0 273
Single modes 37,782 80.2 20,723 96.7 2,605 91.2 127
Truck2 35,531 75.4 19,961 93.1 2,510 87.8 123
Rail S S S S S S 820
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,272
Multiple modes 7,829 16.6 S S 128 4.5 643
Parcel, USPS or courier 7,737 16.4 97 0.5 53 1.9 641
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,052
Other and unknown modes 1,491 3.2 394 1.8 S S 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 411 100.0 303 100.0 S S 136
Single modes 409 99.6 296 97.6 S S 135
Truck2 407 99.0 251 82.7 33 30.7 133
Rail S S S S S S 1,164
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 856
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 856
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 37

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 5,724 100.0 3,097 100.0 600 100.0 136
Single modes 5,427 94.8 2,894 93.4 530 88.2 135
Truck2 5,427 94.8 2,894 93.4 530 88.2 135
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 137
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,813
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S

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 55 100.0 7,212 100.0 287 100.0 45
Single modes 54 99.0 7,199 99.8 287 99.9 45
Truck2 54 99.0 7,199 99.8 287 99.9 45
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 21

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 236 100.0 893 100.0 16 100.0 20
Single modes S S S S S S 22
Truck2 S S S S S S 28
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 19
Multiple modes S S S S S S 13
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 13
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 11,215 100.0 2,228 100.0 439 100.0 317
Single modes S S 2,177 97.7 428 97.5 165
Truck2 S S 2,177 97.7 428 97.5 165
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 4,871 43.4 27 1.2 8 1.8 495
Parcel, USPS or courier 4,871 43.4 27 1.2 8 1.8 495
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S 24 1.1 3 0.7 253

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 1,991 100.0 1,214 100.0 277 100.0 641
Single modes 1,505 75.6 1,169 96.3 247 89.2 82
Truck2 1,501 75.4 1,156 95.2 247 89.0 71
Rail S S S S S S 10
All other Single modes S S S S 0.1 1,569
Multiple modes 431 21.6 24 2.0 S S 1,190
Parcel, USPS or courier 431 21.6 24 2.0 S S 1,190
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 55 2.8 21 1.7 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 2,313 100.0 S S 254 100.0 263
Single modes 1,643 71.1 S S 244 96.0 S
Truck2 1,627 70.3 S S 242 95.6 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S 1 0.4 1,888
Multiple modes 570 24.6 S S S S 489
Parcel, USPS or courier 569 24.6 S S S S 488
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 5,101
Other and unknown modes 100 4.3 S S 5 1.8 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 12,660 100.0 S S 502 100.0 S
Single modes 10,133 80.0 S S 380 75.8 S
Truck2 8,270 65.3 S S 372 74.1 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,001
Multiple modes 1,622 12.8 23 2.0 17 3.5 518
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,610 12.7 23 1.9 17 3.4 510
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 4,807
Other and unknown modes S S 129 11.0 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 12,348 100.0 3,486 100.0 355 100.0 S
Single modes 12,137 98.3 3,472 99.6 352 99.2 S
Truck2 11,961 96.9 3,472 99.6 352 99.2 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,281
Multiple modes 129 1.0 3 2 0.4 S
Parcel, USPS or courier 129 1.0 3 2 0.4 S
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S 11 0.3 1 0.3 402

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 S S 261
Single modes S S S S S S 264
Truck2 S S S S S S 264
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 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.