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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 124,038 100.0 246,602 100.0 47,132 100.0 480
Single modes 111,431 89.8 239,069 96.9 40,401 85.7 S
Truck2 105,107 84.7 231,179 93.7 31,762 67.4 132
Rail 3,791 3.1 4,713 1.9 8,332 17.7 2,007
All other Single modes 2,533 2.0 3,177 1.3 S S 2,677
Multiple modes 9,339 7.5 4,448 1.8 6,128 13.0 1,333
Parcel, USPS or courier 6,986 5.6 141 160 0.3 1,328
All other Multiple modes 2,353 1.9 4,306 1.7 5,968 12.7 1,957
Other and unknown modes 3,268 2.6 3,086 1.3 603 1.3 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 16,068 100.0 S S 11,728 100.0 450
Single modes 15,240 94.8 S S 8,687 74.1 S
Truck2 14,450 89.9 S S 6,785 57.9 S
Rail S S S S S S 2,732
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,723
Multiple modes 687 4.3 S S S S 1,974
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,034
All other Multiple modes 672 4.2 S S S S 2,679
Other and unknown modes 141 0.9 35 0.1 74 0.6 1,416

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 17,129 100.0 15,463 100.0 14,419 100.0 418
Single modes 15,906 92.9 14,771 95.5 12,840 89.0 314
Truck2 14,331 83.7 13,065 84.5 9,243 64.1 298
Rail 1,456 8.5 1,535 9.9 3,590 24.9 2,022
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,796
Multiple modes 1,058 6.2 559 3.6 1,302 9.0 1,585
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,505
All other Multiple modes 981 5.7 551 3.6 1,292 9.0 2,335
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 1,204 100.0 S S 4,515 100.0 S
Single modes 1,193 99.2 S S 4,457 98.7 S
Truck2 840 69.8 S S S S S
Rail 353 29.3 1,083 1.1 1,091 24.2 1,472
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,598
Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,297
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,297
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 33

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 8,744 100.0 29,783 100.0 2,693 100.0 38
Single modes 7,849 89.8 25,893 86.9 1,600 59.4 37
Truck2 7,361 84.2 22,793 76.5 1,133 42.1 36
Rail 28 0.3 139 0.5 218 8.1 1,557
All other Single modes S S S S S S 62
Multiple modes S S 2,384 8.0 1,079 40.1 S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 2,673
All other Multiple modes S S 2,384 8.0 1,079 40.1 S
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 13,050 100.0 S S 3,307 100.0 S
Single modes 12,066 92.5 S S 3,281 99.2 S
Truck2 11,965 91.7 S S 2,899 87.7 S
Rail S S S S S S 746
All other Single modes S S S S S S 3,130
Multiple modes 934 7.2 15 S S 1,988
Parcel, USPS or courier 920 7.0 11 13 0.4 1,987
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,770
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 S S 10,770 100.0 4,165 100.0 388
Single modes S S 10,448 97.0 3,811 91.5 S
Truck2 S S 9,946 92.3 3,162 75.9 S
Rail 205 1.0 500 4.6 644 15.5 1,441
All other Single modes S S 2 5 0.1 2,743
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,670
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,666
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,132
Other and unknown modes 530 2.5 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 9,161 100.0 13,236 100.0 2,767 100.0 584
Single modes 7,227 78.9 12,164 91.9 2,538 91.7 S
Truck2 7,139 77.9 12,106 91.5 2,511 90.8 S
Rail S S 56 0.4 25 0.9 S
All other Single modes 56 0.6 S S 1 1,990
Multiple modes 1,341 14.6 71 0.5 135 4.9 1,397
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,286 14.0 S S S S 1,395
All other Multiple modes 55 0.6 33 0.2 87 3.2 2,614
Other and unknown modes 593 6.5 1,002 7.6 S S 74

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 9,589 100.0 753 100.0 337 100.0 528
Single modes 6,461 67.4 653 86.6 277 82.3 S
Truck2 4,595 47.9 634 84.1 230 68.2 S
Rail S S S S S S 2,277
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,711
Multiple modes 2,491 26.0 33 4.4 58 17.1 1,192
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,434 25.4 23 3.1 32 9.4 1,191
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,831
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 27,543 100.0 12,144 100.0 3,153 100.0 764
Single modes 25,090 91.1 11,950 98.4 2,861 90.7 367
Truck2 24,275 88.1 11,753 96.8 2,394 75.9 352
Rail S S S S S S 2,373
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,989
Multiple modes S S 105 0.9 213 6.8 1,096
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,095
All other Multiple modes 229 0.8 65 0.5 178 5.7 2,754
Other and unknown modes S S 89 0.7 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 232 100.0 191 100.0 S S 456
Single modes 229 98.8 191 100.0 S S S
Truck2 226 97.2 165 86.6 S S S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 119
Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,393
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 2,393
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.