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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 159,716 100.0 417,851 100.0 105,227 100.0 169
Single modes 150,254 94.1 398,951 95.5 102,759 97.7 117
Truck2 115,371 72.2 234,422 56.1 38,714 36.8 107
Rail 10,686 6.7 58,780 14.1 25,865 24.6 798
All other Single modes 24,196 15.1 105,749 25.3 38,181 36.3 1,579
Multiple modes 3,637 2.3 2,299 0.6 2,099 2.0 560
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,973 1.9 134 90 562
All other Multiple modes 663 0.4 2,164 0.5 2,009 1.9 S
Other and unknown modes 5,826 3.6 16,600 4.0 369 0.4 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 17,531 100.0 40,518 100.0 10,608 100.0 S
Single modes 17,375 99.1 39,725 98.0 10,213 96.3 S
Truck2 16,764 95.6 S S 7,320 69.0 S
Rail S S S S S S 395
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 8

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 7,797 100.0 14,653 100.0 S S S
Single modes 7,726 99.1 14,598 99.6 S S S
Truck2 7,697 98.7 14,505 99.0 S S S
Rail S S S S S S 800
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,688
Multiple modes S S S S S S 711
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 711
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 79

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 1,183 100.0 52,229 100.0 3,557 100.0 S
Single modes 1,172 99.1 52,118 99.8 3,399 95.6 S
Truck2 980 82.8 S S 1,490 41.9 S
Rail 147 12.5 1,719 3.3 1,227 34.5 704
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,923
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,247
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,405
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,241
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 33,481 100.0 208,633 100.0 45,840 100.0 81
Single modes 32,934 98.4 193,091 92.6 44,765 97.7 81
Truck2 13,195 39.4 68,278 32.7 5,549 12.1 75
Rail 1,082 3.2 34,123 16.4 5,879 12.8 586
All other Single modes 18,657 55.7 90,690 43.5 33,338 72.7 167
Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 564
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 391 1.2 15,002 7.2 114 0.2 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 27,720 100.0 39,232 100.0 17,367 100.0 212
Single modes 25,874 93.3 37,649 96.0 16,867 97.1 S
Truck2 14,738 53.2 13,003 33.1 4,446 25.6 S
Rail 6,187 22.3 11,080 28.2 10,036 57.8 929
All other Single modes 4,950 17.9 13,567 34.6 2,386 13.7 1,106
Multiple modes 843 3.0 765 1.9 435 2.5 574
Parcel, USPS or courier 545 2.0 37 16 573
All other Multiple modes 298 1.1 728 1.9 419 2.4 1,285
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 12,276 100.0 10,323 100.0 6,016 100.0 729
Single modes 10,111 82.4 10,129 98.1 5,851 97.3 365
Truck2 8,887 72.4 6,842 66.3 2,859 47.5 337
Rail 1,215 9.9 3,287 31.8 2,991 49.7 966
All other Single modes 10 S S 2,785
Multiple modes 878 7.1 96 0.9 145 2.4 988
Parcel, USPS or courier 836 6.8 36 0.3 37 0.6 988
All other Multiple modes 41 0.3 S S S S 1,895
Other and unknown modes S S 98 0.9 20 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 21,591 100.0 37,828 100.0 12,359 100.0 142
Single modes 19,627 90.9 37,355 98.8 12,258 99.2 S
Truck2 18,190 84.2 33,100 87.5 7,920 64.1 S
Rail 1,104 5.1 3,124 8.3 2,576 20.8 802
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,753
Multiple modes 393 1.8 S S S S 530
Parcel, USPS or courier 392 1.8 S S S S 530
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 522
Other and unknown modes S S 445 1.2 83 0.7 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 13,713 100.0 3,439 100.0 2,834 100.0 S
Single modes 12,081 88.1 3,368 97.9 2,791 98.5 S
Truck2 11,799 86.0 3,308 96.2 S S S
Rail S S S S S S 599
All other Single modes 198 1.4 S S S S 1,798
Multiple modes 696 5.1 15 0.4 S S 505
Parcel, USPS or courier 638 4.7 10 0.3 7 0.2 500
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 5,451
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 23,994 100.0 10,754 100.0 1,959 100.0 151
Single modes 23,030 96.0 10,679 99.3 1,939 99.0 131
Truck2 22,809 95.1 10,268 95.5 1,785 91.1 130
Rail S S 411 3.8 S S 387
All other Single modes 4 S S S S 1,572
Multiple modes S S 24 0.2 S S S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 24 0.2 S S S
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 407 1.7 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 243 100.0 51 100.0 188
Single modes S S 238 98.0 50 98.6 S
Truck2 S S 226 93.1 43 84.8 S
Rail S S S S S S 630
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 421
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 421
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 81

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.