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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 89,683 100.0 64,085 100.0 8,835 100.0 539
Single modes 74,554 83.1 62,208 97.1 8,620 97.6 227
Truck2 58,418 65.1 61,946 96.7 8,254 93.4 131
Rail S S S S S S 1,814
All other Single modes 16,091 17.9 S S S S 1,756
Multiple modes 13,579 15.1 184 0.3 158 1.8 1,101
Parcel, USPS or courier 13,531 15.1 170 0.3 129 1.5 1,100
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,953
Other and unknown modes S S S S 57 0.6 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 1,288 100.0 600 100.0 176 100.0 S
Single modes 1,278 99.2 597 99.5 171 97.6 S
Truck2 1,278 99.2 597 99.5 171 97.6 S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 21
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,959
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 7

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 4,954 100.0 6,510 100.0 1,011 100.0 S
Single modes 4,754 96.0 6,493 99.7 1,004 99.2 S
Truck2 4,737 95.6 6,350 97.5 863 85.3 S
Rail 18 0.4 S S S S 1,241
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 551
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 551
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 22

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 538 100.0 S S S S S
Single modes 518 96.3 S S S S S
Truck2 514 95.6 S S S S S
Rail S S S S S S 880
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,985
Multiple modes S S S S S S 853
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 838
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,897
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S

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 2,074 100.0 10,651 100.0 666 100.0 47
Single modes 2,015 97.2 9,255 86.9 650 97.5 58
Truck2 2,015 97.2 9,255 86.9 650 97.5 58
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 376
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S

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 6,671 100.0 3,023 100.0 1,255 100.0 911
Single modes 5,476 82.1 2,915 96.4 1,204 95.9 214
Truck2 5,462 81.9 2,843 94.0 S S 213
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,847
Multiple modes 1,125 16.9 32 1.1 43 3.4 1,129
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,098 16.5 22 0.7 22 1.7 1,129
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,812
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 2,971 100.0 2,966 100.0 S S 269
Single modes 2,530 85.2 2,903 97.9 S S 73
Truck2 2,525 85.0 2,903 97.9 S S 59
Rail
All other Single modes 5 0.2 S S 1,384
Multiple modes 309 10.4 16 0.5 14 2.1 898
Parcel, USPS or courier 308 10.4 16 0.5 13 2.0 897
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,962
Other and unknown modes 132 4.4 48 1.6 S S 22

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 8,767 100.0 7,007 100.0 877 100.0 230
Single modes 7,217 82.3 6,919 98.7 863 98.4 130
Truck2 7,039 80.3 6,911 98.6 859 97.9 123
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,677
Multiple modes 1,356 15.5 17 0.2 11 1.3 586
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,354 15.4 16 0.2 9 1.1 591
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S S S 3 0.4 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 34,661 100.0 887 100.0 481 100.0 976
Single modes 23,775 68.6 805 90.7 416 86.4 816
Truck2 8,147 23.5 772 87.0 353 73.5 388
Rail S S S S S S 1,841
All other Single modes 15,602 45.0 33 3.7 62 12.9 1,757
Multiple modes 9,916 28.6 64 7.2 59 12.2 1,214
Parcel, USPS or courier 9,916 28.6 64 7.2 59 12.2 1,214
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,795
Other and unknown modes S S 18 2.0 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 27,662 100.0 S S S S 387
Single modes 26,895 97.2 S S S S 127
Truck2 26,643 96.3 S S S S 119
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,036
Multiple modes 661 2.4 S S 19 0.7 1,183
Parcel, USPS or courier 648 2.3 S S 19 0.7 1,173
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,214
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 914

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 99 100.0 24 100.0 2 100.0 S
Single modes 96 96.7 24 99.9 2 99.1 S
Truck2 58 58.6 24 99.7 2 94.4 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,328
Multiple modes S S S S S S 534
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 534
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.