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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 25,546 100.0 18,703 100.0 3,979 100.0 735
Single modes 16,390 64.2 16,238 86.8 3,814 95.8 628
Truck2 14,428 56.5 14,800 79.1 2,220 55.8 349
Rail 164 0.6 S S S S 1,168
All other Single modes 1,798 7.0 17 S S 2,302
Multiple modes 8,716 34.1 154 0.8 123 3.1 836
Parcel, USPS or courier 8,696 34.0 118 0.6 85 2.1 836
All other Multiple modes 20 S S 38 1.0 2,570
Other and unknown modes 440 1.7 2,312 12.4 43 1.1 89

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 305 100.0 222 100.0 S S S
Single modes 298 97.8 220 99.3 S S S
Truck2 265 87.1 177 79.8 S S S
Rail S S S S S S 2,087
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 480
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 480
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S

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 1,035 100.0 840 100.0 173 100.0 S
Single modes 940 90.8 775 92.3 149 85.7 S
Truck2 932 90.1 772 92.0 142 81.8 S
Rail S S S S S S 2,363
All other Single modes
Multiple modes 52 5.0 S S S S 775
Parcel, USPS or courier 41 4.0 S S 1 0.5 771
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,630
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 62

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 289 100.0 10,753 100.0 919 100.0 S
Single modes 193 66.8 8,600 80.0 889 96.8 S
Truck2 173 59.8 8,339 77.6 517 56.2 S
Rail 20 7.0 261 2.4 372 40.5 1,658
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 6
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 6
Other and unknown modes S S S S 30 3.2 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 181 100.0 S S S S S
Single modes 181 99.9 S S S S S
Truck2 181 99.9 S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S S
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 9,584 100.0 1,626 100.0 528 100.0 693
Single modes 6,528 68.1 1,600 98.4 517 97.9 513
Truck2 5,799 60.5 1,419 87.3 304 57.5 356
Rail 24 0.3 179 11.0 209 39.6 1,164
All other Single modes S S 2 0.1 4 0.8 1,930
Multiple modes S S 13 0.8 10 1.9 854
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 13 0.8 10 1.8 853
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,435
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 2,131 100.0 S S S S 710
Single modes 1,111 52.1 S S S S 691
Truck2 1,073 50.3 S S S S 436
Rail S S S S S S 1,099
All other Single modes 16 0.8 S S S S 2,720
Multiple modes 958 45.0 47 2.2 38 3.8 726
Parcel, USPS or courier 955 44.8 42 2.0 24 2.4 725
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,658
Other and unknown modes S S S S 3 0.3 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 2,005 100.0 1,088 100.0 408 100.0 588
Single modes 1,482 73.9 1,062 97.6 392 96.2 496
Truck2 1,415 70.6 945 86.8 304 74.5 324
Rail S S 117 10.8 87 21.4 1,260
All other Single modes S S 1 1 0.3 2,360
Multiple modes 485 24.2 14 1.3 11 2.8 665
Parcel, USPS or courier 484 24.1 13 1.2 9 2.3 665
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,743
Other and unknown modes 37 1.9 12 1.1 S S 102

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 6,119 100.0 222 100.0 172 100.0 1,128
Single modes 2,230 36.4 176 79.2 139 80.9 1,276
Truck2 1,745 28.5 162 73.3 100 58.2 750
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,325
Multiple modes 3,733 61.0 31 13.8 31 17.8 1,070
Parcel, USPS or courier 3,733 61.0 31 13.8 30 17.6 1,070
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,717
Other and unknown modes S S S S 2 1.3 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 3,870 100.0 S S S S 529
Single modes 3,408 88.1 S S S S 363
Truck2 2,829 73.1 678 60.6 217 38.2 290
Rail S S S S S S 805
All other Single modes 552 14.3 1 1 0.1 2,938
Multiple modes 431 11.1 16 1.5 10 1.8 604
Parcel, USPS or courier 430 11.1 16 1.4 10 1.7 598
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,602
Other and unknown modes S S 1 0.1 S S 198

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 27 100.0 S S S S 668
Single modes 19 68.9 S S S S 987
Truck2 17 61.7 S S S S 344
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 3,349
Multiple modes 8 30.8 0.3 S S 429
Parcel, USPS or courier 8 30.8 0.3 S S 429
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 179

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.