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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 39,662 100.0 24,511 100.0 2,439 100.0 462
Single modes 32,732 82.5 23,924 97.6 2,233 91.6 150
Truck2 32,049 80.8 23,826 97.2 2,130 87.3 127
Rail 94 0.2 S S 98 4.0 1,301
All other Single modes 590 1.5 4 4 0.2 1,583
Multiple modes 6,353 16.0 429 1.7 161 6.6 807
Parcel, USPS or courier 6,321 15.9 212 0.9 142 5.8 808
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 577 1.5 159 0.6 45 1.8 106

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 644 100.0 S S S S 382
Single modes 494 76.6 S S S S S
Truck2 493 76.6 S S S S 37
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 4,146
Multiple modes S S S S S S 704
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 704
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 35

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 2,459 100.0 2,102 100.0 204 100.0 S
Single modes 2,451 99.7 2,101 99.9 203 99.5 S
Truck2 2,451 99.7 2,101 99.9 203 99.5 S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 887
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 887
All other Multiple modes
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 S S 4,773 100.0 69 100.0 17
Single modes 76 91.4 4,712 98.7 69 99.0 16
Truck2 76 91.4 4,712 98.7 69 99.0 16
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 82
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 82
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 S S 1,412 100.0 S S S
Single modes S S 1,412 100.0 S S S
Truck2 S S 1,412 100.0 S S S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 119
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 119
All other Multiple modes
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 S S 1,142 100.0 361 100.0 436
Single modes S S 1,110 97.2 331 91.8 S
Truck2 S S 1,029 90.1 273 75.6 S
Rail S S S S S S 731
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,485
Multiple modes 830 8.5 30 2.6 29 8.1 691
Parcel, USPS or courier 820 8.3 21 1.9 15 4.1 691
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,901
Other and unknown modes 20 0.2 3 0.2 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 5,690 100.0 1,854 100.0 701 100.0 660
Single modes 3,567 62.7 1,744 94.0 643 91.7 281
Truck2 3,551 62.4 1,735 93.6 619 88.2 203
Rail S S S S S S 3,235
All other Single modes 9 0.2 S S 2,010
Multiple modes 2,022 35.5 87 4.7 52 7.4 748
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,022 35.5 87 4.7 52 7.4 748
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 5,452
Other and unknown modes S S 23 1.2 6 0.8 205

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 7,222 100.0 S S 593 100.0 528
Single modes 6,101 84.5 S S 527 88.8 361
Truck2 5,991 83.0 S S 526 88.7 338
Rail S S S S S S 1,025
All other Single modes 105 1.5 1 1 0.1 1,121
Multiple modes 1,004 13.9 S S 40 6.7 767
Parcel, USPS or courier 982 13.6 35 0.4 35 5.8 768
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 52
Other and unknown modes 117 1.6 47 0.5 26 4.5 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 4,575 100.0 187 100.0 53 100.0 562
Single modes 2,616 57.2 160 85.8 33 61.8 200
Truck2 2,167 47.4 159 84.9 32 59.9 S
Rail
All other Single modes 450 9.8 S S 1 1.9 1,630
Multiple modes 1,807 39.5 23 12.3 17 32.4 829
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,807 39.5 23 12.3 17 32.4 829
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 8,845 100.0 1,945 100.0 341 100.0 448
Single modes 8,154 92.2 1,898 97.6 313 91.7 113
Truck2 8,145 92.1 1,898 97.6 312 91.5 104
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,791
Multiple modes 515 5.8 32 1.7 21 6.2 968
Parcel, USPS or courier 515 5.8 32 1.7 21 6.2 968
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 176 2.0 15 0.8 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 S S S S S S 792
Single modes 34 61.5 S S S S 449
Truck2 S S S S S S 93
Rail S S S S S S 3,174
All other Single modes S S S S S S 905
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,466
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,466
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.