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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 48,133 100.0 164,967 100.0 101,486 100.0 802
Single modes 41,572 86.4 125,489 76.1 63,243 62.3 499
Truck2 34,984 72.7 62,445 37.9 18,355 18.1 439
Rail 4,680 9.7 50,817 30.8 31,579 31.1 970
All other Single modes 1,908 4.0 12,228 7.4 13,309 13.1 1,527
Multiple modes 5,235 10.9 37,822 22.9 37,616 37.1 1,092
Parcel, USPS or courier 3,781 7.9 116 120 0.1 1,085
All other Multiple modes 1,455 3.0 37,706 22.9 37,496 36.9 3,131
Other and unknown modes S S 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 9,680 100.0 36,866 100.0 22,564 100.0 259
Single modes 9,194 95.0 35,557 96.5 22,112 98.0 239
Truck2 7,258 75.0 18,418 50.0 4,427 19.6 206
Rail 1,454 15.0 12,344 33.5 10,245 45.4 1,115
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,529
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,089
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,090
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,088
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 61

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 6,419 100.0 S S S S S
Single modes 6,417 100.0 S S S S S
Truck2 5,067 78.9 6,835 51.5 2,600 27.7 S
Rail S S S S S S 1,064
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 325
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 325
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 107

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 1,749 100.0 80,916 100.0 49,261 100.0 64
Single modes 794 45.4 43,424 53.7 12,308 25.0 S
Truck2 117 6.7 14,815 18.3 509 1.0 29
Rail 636 36.4 27,112 33.5 10,633 21.6 636
All other Single modes S S S S S S 780
Multiple modes 947 54.1 36,337 44.9 36,917 74.9 S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 352
All other Multiple modes 946 54.1 36,336 44.9 36,917 74.9 962
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 1,280 100.0 S S S S 36
Single modes 1,280 100.0 S S S S 36
Truck2 1,280 100.0 S S S S 36
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
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 1,984 100.0 694 100.0 277 100.0 514
Single modes 1,919 96.7 687 98.9 271 97.8 417
Truck2 1,916 96.6 686 98.9 271 97.7 406
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,454
Multiple modes S S 2 0.3 2 0.8 929
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 2 0.3 2 0.7 922
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 4,328
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 4,556 100.0 5,240 100.0 3,751 100.0 1,061
Single modes 3,802 83.4 5,147 98.2 3,667 97.8 1,017
Truck2 2,872 63.0 3,057 58.3 1,148 30.6 995
Rail 925 20.3 2,087 39.8 2,515 67.0 1,229
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,470
Multiple modes 608 13.4 47 0.9 49 1.3 1,085
Parcel, USPS or courier 604 13.3 45 0.9 45 1.2 1,075
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 4,138
Other and unknown modes 146 3.2 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 6,807 100.0 S S S S 572
Single modes 6,212 91.3 S S S S 425
Truck2 5,962 87.6 S S S S 315
Rail
All other Single modes 250 3.7 5,918 32.5 4,678 34.6 1,484
Multiple modes S S S S S S 923
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 11 11 919
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,390
Other and unknown modes 101 1.5 S S S S 107

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 11,277 100.0 593 100.0 342 100.0 736
Single modes 7,923 70.3 419 70.7 267 78.3 S
Truck2 6,895 61.1 411 69.3 255 74.6 S
Rail
All other Single modes 1,028 9.1 8 1.3 13 3.7 1,709
Multiple modes 2,320 20.6 42 7.1 47 13.6 1,262
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,320 20.6 42 7.1 47 13.6 1,262
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S 28 8.1 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 4,283 100.0 S S S S 724
Single modes 3,941 92.0 S S S S 632
Truck2 3,600 84.1 1,366 34.8 695 35.3 446
Rail S S S S S S 485
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,556
Multiple modes 325 7.6 15 0.4 15 0.8 866
Parcel, USPS or courier 325 7.6 15 0.4 15 0.8 866
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S 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 S
Single modes S S S S S S 200
Truck2 S S S S S S 98
Rail S S S S S S 530
All other Single modes S S S S S S 573
Multiple modes S S S S S S 868
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 868
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 7

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.