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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 10,505 100.0 29,137 100.0 6,089 100.0 927
Single modes 8,782 83.6 28,732 98.6 5,916 97.2 S
Truck2 6,758 64.3 10,956 37.6 1,999 32.8 137
Rail 1,874 17.8 12,264 42.1 2,446 40.2 723
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,771
Multiple modes 1,444 13.7 224 0.8 145 2.4 1,757
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,149 10.9 S S S S 1,757
All other Multiple modes S S S S 98 1.6 1,915
Other and unknown modes 279 2.7 181 0.6 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 536 100.0 717 100.0 S S 580
Single modes 530 99.0 711 99.1 S S 569
Truck2 530 99.0 711 99.1 S S 569
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,091
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,091
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 3,095

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 S S S S S S S
Single modes S S S S S S S
Truck2 S S S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,274
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,274
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 614

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 968 100.0 4,605 100.0 632 100.0 S
Single modes 681 70.4 4,417 95.9 556 88.0 S
Truck2 294 30.3 4,166 90.5 316 49.9 S
Rail S S S S S S 888
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 456
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 456
Other and unknown modes

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 910 100.0 17,822 100.0 2,650 100.0 S
Single modes 910 100.0 17,821 100.0 2,650 100.0 S
Truck2 S S S S S S 48
Rail 223 24.5 10,521 59.0 1,087 41.0 103
All other Single modes S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,664
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,664
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 62

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 592 100.0 709 100.0 259 100.0 1,169
Single modes 502 84.9 703 99.2 252 97.1 476
Truck2 499 84.4 581 82.0 140 53.9 465
Rail 3 0.5 121 17.1 112 43.2 924
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,878
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,741
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,740
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,922
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 1,190

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 1,503 100.0 1,173 100.0 585 100.0 1,671
Single modes 1,136 75.6 1,146 97.7 544 92.9 401
Truck2 1,008 67.1 860 73.3 324 55.4 389
Rail S S S S S S 779
All other Single modes S S S S S S 3,120
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,810
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,810
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,083
Other and unknown modes S S S S 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 2,201 100.0 2,651 100.0 991 100.0 406
Single modes 1,933 87.8 2,479 93.5 975 98.4 270
Truck2 801 36.4 1,576 59.4 277 27.9 229
Rail 1,132 51.4 904 34.1 698 70.4 773
All other Single modes S S S S 2,092
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,751
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,750
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,154
Other and unknown modes 239 10.9 164 6.2 1 0.1 77

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 868 100.0 30 100.0 25 100.0 1,335
Single modes 279 32.2 28 91.9 21 83.6 S
Truck2 S S 28 91.2 20 81.3 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,805
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,741
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,741
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 2,369 100.0 994 100.0 384 100.0 S
Single modes 2,262 95.5 991 99.7 377 98.3 S
Truck2 2,262 95.5 810 81.5 289 75.4 S
Rail S S S S S S 490
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,650
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,236
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,230
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,011
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 41

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 100.0 S
Single modes S S S S 97.3 S
Truck2 S S S S 97.3 S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 87
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 87
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.