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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 10,635 100.0 45,708 100.0 15,729 100.0 703
Single modes 8,686 81.7 37,394 81.8 15,058 95.7 321
Truck2 7,749 72.9 22,640 49.5 4,380 27.8 197
Rail 434 4.1 13,798 30.2 10,082 64.1 865
All other Single modes S S 956 2.1 S S 2,012
Multiple modes 1,654 15.6 S S S S 932
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,579 14.8 42 41 0.3 931
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,454
Other and unknown modes 294 2.8 7,880 17.2 183 1.2 279

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 S S S S S S 648
Single modes S S S S S S 648
Truck2 S S S S S S 639
Rail S S S S S S 960
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes

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 1,020 100.0 617 100.0 350 100.0 632
Single modes 978 96.0 608 98.6 346 98.8 S
Truck2 978 95.9 608 98.6 346 98.8 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,102
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,467
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,468
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 19
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 41

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 154 100.0 S S 1,128 100.0 S
Single modes 152 98.9 S S 1,126 99.8 S
Truck2 115 74.9 S S 723 64.1 S
Rail S S S S S S 782
All other Single modes S S S S S S 80
Multiple modes 1 0.4 S S S S 1,245
Parcel, USPS or courier 1 0.4 S S S S 1,245
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 705 100.0 30,896 100.0 9,129 100.0 S
Single modes 595 84.5 23,138 74.9 9,020 98.8 S
Truck2 402 57.1 12,134 39.3 886 9.7 S
Rail 190 27.0 10,855 35.1 7,606 83.3 706
All other Single modes S S S S S S 3,560
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 109 15.5 7,758 25.1 109 1.2 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 1,492 100.0 S S S S 1,020
Single modes 1,243 83.3 S S S S 334
Truck2 1,108 74.3 S S S S 292
Rail S S S S S S 811
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,145
Multiple modes 216 14.5 S S S S 1,197
Parcel, USPS or courier 209 14.0 S S S S 1,195
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,751
Other and unknown modes 33 2.2 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 1,558 100.0 369 100.0 164 100.0 908
Single modes 1,414 90.8 362 98.1 157 95.7 210
Truck2 1,413 90.7 362 98.1 156 95.5 207
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 743
Multiple modes 117 7.5 4 1.2 6 3.4 1,220
Parcel, USPS or courier 117 7.5 4 1.1 S S 1,219
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3,034
Other and unknown modes 26 1.7 S S S S 674

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 1,508 100.0 6,150 100.0 S S 252
Single modes 1,281 85.0 5,755 93.6 S S S
Truck2 1,170 77.6 3,424 55.7 825 25.8 S
Rail S S S S S S 845
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,173
Multiple modes S S S S S S 955
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 1 S S 943
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,181
Other and unknown modes 18 1.2 S S S S 313

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 1,720 100.0 70 100.0 31 100.0 1,189
Single modes 764 44.4 66 93.0 S S 1,123
Truck2 319 18.5 65 92.3 S S S
Rail S S S S S S 1,439
All other Single modes S S 0.5 S S 2,027
Multiple modes 873 50.7 4 5.4 5 15.6 1,343
Parcel, USPS or courier 873 50.7 4 5.4 5 15.6 1,343
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S 0.2 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 1,737 100.0 286 100.0 322 100.0 583
Single modes 1,519 87.4 263 92.0 297 92.5 442
Truck2 1,513 87.1 263 91.9 297 92.4 429
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,412
Multiple modes S S S S S S 607
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 607
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 989
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 1 100.0 S S S
Single modes 3 52.7 1 85.3 S S S
Truck2 3 52.7 1 85.3 S S S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,956
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,956
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 86

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.