USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Site Notification

Site Notification

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]

Excel | CSV

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 30,556 100.0 80,732 100.0 35,757 100.0 872
Single modes 25,307 82.8 75,818 93.9 29,373 82.1 143
Truck2 23,348 76.4 59,235 73.4 11,997 33.6 122
Rail 992 3.2 16,562 20.5 17,316 48.4 868
All other Single modes 966 3.2 S S S S 2,025
Multiple modes 3,956 12.9 4,187 5.2 6,190 17.3 1,210
Parcel, USPS or courier 3,818 12.5 96 0.1 111 0.3 1,210
All other Multiple modes 137 0.4 4,091 5.1 6,079 17.0 1,396
Other and unknown modes 1,293 4.2 S S 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 3,831 100.0 8,907 100.0 3,452 100.0 354
Single modes 3,709 96.8 8,476 95.2 3,320 96.2 420
Truck2 3,549 92.6 7,393 83.0 2,308 66.9 402
Rail 160 4.2 1,083 12.2 1,012 29.3 1,012
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,649
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,649
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 120

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 2,380 100.0 3,187 100.0 1,053 100.0 S
Single modes 2,380 100.0 3,187 100.0 1,053 100.0 S
Truck2 2,152 90.4 2,842 89.2 710 67.5 S
Rail 228 9.6 344 10.8 342 32.5 961
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes

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 136 100.0 13,337 100.0 897 100.0 S
Single modes 135 99.2 13,169 98.7 855 95.3 S
Truck2 135 99.2 13,169 98.7 855 95.3 S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,430
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,430
All other Multiple modes
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 1,494 100.0 34,206 100.0 23,020 100.0 82
Single modes 1,414 94.6 30,142 88.1 17,007 73.9 91
Truck2 1,132 75.8 16,187 47.3 S S 90
Rail 282 18.8 13,956 40.8 15,118 65.7 470
All other Single modes
Multiple modes 66 4.4 4,037 11.8 6,012 26.1 S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S S
All other Multiple modes 66 4.4 4,037 11.8 6,012 26.1 S
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 14

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 1,455 100.0 S S 139 100.0 472
Single modes 807 55.5 S S 133 96.0 S
Truck2 801 55.1 S S 117 84.7 S
Rail S S S S S S 1,286
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,917
Multiple modes 580 39.9 S S S S 1,128
Parcel, USPS or courier 580 39.9 S S S S 1,128
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 260

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 1,812 100.0 S S S S 1,180
Single modes 1,260 69.6 S S S S 302
Truck2 1,235 68.2 S S S S 294
Rail S S S S S S 2
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,858
Multiple modes 202 11.1 12 0.2 14 0.4 1,280
Parcel, USPS or courier 202 11.1 12 0.2 14 0.4 1,280
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 349 19.3 19 0.4 2 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 4,765 100.0 12,108 100.0 2,300 100.0 748
Single modes 3,871 81.2 12,019 99.3 2,248 97.7 S
Truck2 3,492 73.3 10,930 90.3 1,384 60.2 S
Rail S S 1,072 8.9 811 35.2 831
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,156
Multiple modes 485 10.2 25 0.2 27 1.2 1,375
Parcel, USPS or courier 476 10.0 16 0.1 14 0.6 1,376
All other Multiple modes S S 9 13 0.6 1,236
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 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 5,000 100.0 S S S S 594
Single modes 3,235 64.7 S S S S 264
Truck2 2,367 47.3 S S S S 183
Rail S S S S S S 247
All other Single modes 840 16.8 3 0.2 5 0.7 1,873
Multiple modes 1,521 30.4 14 0.9 S S 953
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,521 30.4 14 0.9 S S 953
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 9,559 100.0 1,919 100.0 803 100.0 1,126
Single modes 8,430 88.2 1,864 97.1 731 91.0 S
Truck2 8,419 88.1 1,856 96.7 718 89.5 S
Rail S S S S S S 1,391
All other Single modes S S 1 2,147
Multiple modes 1,041 10.9 53 2.8 70 8.8 1,194
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,037 10.8 50 2.6 65 8.1 1,194
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,533
Other and unknown modes S S 2 0.1 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 S S S S S S 559
Single modes S S S S S S 421
Truck2 S S S S S S 379
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,861
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,209
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,210
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 874
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.