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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 32,918 100.0 48,981 100.0 6,912 100.0 536
Single modes 28,131 85.5 48,059 98.1 6,760 97.8 501
Truck2 27,252 82.8 43,097 88.0 5,314 76.9 144
Rail S S S S 1,434 20.7 S
All other Single modes 326 1.0 7 12 0.2 1,858
Multiple modes 3,355 10.2 69 0.1 53 0.8 912
Parcel, USPS or courier 3,349 10.2 62 0.1 49 0.7 912
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 565
Other and unknown modes 1,431 4.3 853 1.7 100 1.4 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 2,584 100.0 S S S S S
Single modes 2,493 96.5 S S S S S
Truck2 2,185 84.6 S S 769 68.0 S
Rail S S S S S S 117
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S 1,072
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S 1,072
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 1,923 100.0 1,915 100.0 254 100.0 S
Single modes 1,528 79.5 1,535 80.2 243 95.7 S
Truck2 1,528 79.5 1,535 80.2 243 95.7 S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 69

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 12,628 100.0 648 100.0 47
Single modes S S 12,567 99.5 641 99.0 43
Truck2 73 36.1 12,061 95.5 497 76.7 41
Rail 2 1.1 S S S S 283
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 149
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 149
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 107

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 2,447 100.0 7,548 100.0 622 100.0 S
Single modes 2,447 100.0 7,548 100.0 622 100.0 S
Truck2 2,447 100.0 7,548 100.0 622 100.0 S
Rail
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

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 2,796 100.0 784 100.0 440 100.0 849
Single modes 2,613 93.5 763 97.3 436 99.2 912
Truck2 2,500 89.4 761 97.0 432 98.2 214
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,081
Multiple modes 127 4.6 4 0.4 3 0.7 995
Parcel, USPS or courier 127 4.6 4 0.4 3 0.7 995
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 25

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 2,097 100.0 1,155 100.0 187 100.0 981
Single modes 1,839 87.7 1,139 98.6 178 95.5 1,055
Truck2 1,821 86.8 1,137 98.4 175 93.8 73
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,785
Multiple modes 169 8.1 S S S S 749
Parcel, USPS or courier 169 8.1 S S S S 749
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 90 4.3 7 0.6 1 0.7 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 3,697 100.0 12,675 100.0 2,699 100.0 291
Single modes 3,319 89.8 12,554 99.0 2,668 98.8 186
Truck2 3,070 83.0 11,060 87.3 1,723 63.9 183
Rail S S S S S S 211
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,567
Multiple modes S S S S S S 875
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S 3 0.1 876
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 565
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 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 4,489 100.0 S S S S 340
Single modes 1,673 37.3 S S S S S
Truck2 1,487 33.1 S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes 186 4.1 S S S S 1,628
Multiple modes 2,443 54.4 16 4.6 12 17.5 926
Parcel, USPS or courier 2,443 54.4 16 4.6 12 17.5 926
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 373 8.3 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 12,668 100.0 4,715 100.0 831 100.0 437
Single modes 12,134 95.8 4,614 97.9 798 96.0 268
Truck2 12,132 95.8 4,614 97.9 798 96.0 266
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,822
Multiple modes 357 2.8 25 0.5 24 2.8 989
Parcel, USPS or courier 357 2.8 25 0.5 24 2.8 989
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S 9 1.1 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 13 100.0 S S S S 463
Single modes 11 82.6 S S S S 658
Truck2 9 73.7 S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,445
Multiple modes S S S S S S 996
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 996
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S

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.