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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 58,843 100.0 60,746 100.0 3,252 100.0 970
Single modes 39,522 67.2 59,457 97.9 2,820 86.7 426
Truck2 32,575 55.4 59,389 97.8 2,667 82.0 262
Rail
All other Single modes 6,948 11.8 68 0.1 153 4.7 2,197
Multiple modes 17,544 29.8 210 0.3 288 8.9 1,539
Parcel, USPS or courier 17,417 29.6 204 0.3 278 8.5 1,539
All other Multiple modes S S S S 10 0.3 2,072
Other and unknown modes 1,777 3.0 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 2,342 100.0 S S 156 100.0 S
Single modes 2,207 94.2 S S 153 98.3 S
Truck2 2,186 93.3 S S 151 97.0 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,380
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,302
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,296
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,746
Other and unknown modes 33 1.4 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 1,308 100.0 1,364 100.0 49 100.0 106
Single modes 1,280 97.9 1,362 99.9 48 99.6 99
Truck2 1,280 97.9 1,362 99.9 48 99.6 99
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 707
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 707
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 19

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 S S 403 100.0 S
Single modes S S S S 335 83.1 11
Truck2 S S S S 335 83.1 11
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,366
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,366
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 545

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 2,568 100.0 S S 420 100.0 S
Single modes 2,568 100.0 S S 420 100.0 S
Truck2 2,568 100.0 S S 420 100.0 S
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 2,259 100.0 326 100.0 101 100.0 1,680
Single modes 1,204 53.3 314 96.4 80 79.4 1,534
Truck2 1,055 46.7 314 96.3 79 78.4 498
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,542
Multiple modes S S 10 3.1 19 19.0 1,741
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 10 3.1 19 19.0 1,741
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 1,974

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 4,194 100.0 1,231 100.0 552 100.0 951
Single modes 2,957 70.5 1,123 91.3 S S 352
Truck2 2,823 67.3 1,104 89.8 S S 254
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,559
Multiple modes 967 23.1 38 3.1 39 7.0 1,384
Parcel, USPS or courier 941 22.4 36 2.9 36 6.5 1,384
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,648
Other and unknown modes 270 6.4 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 5,353 100.0 S S 359 100.0 479
Single modes 4,762 89.0 S S 337 94.0 S
Truck2 3,057 57.1 S S 283 78.8 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,390
Multiple modes 449 8.4 S S S S 1,125
Parcel, USPS or courier 449 8.4 S S S S 1,125
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S 2 0.6 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 33,052 100.0 461 100.0 524 100.0 1,205
Single modes 18,714 56.6 310 67.4 313 59.7 722
Truck2 14,305 43.3 292 63.5 282 53.8 565
Rail
All other Single modes 4,409 13.3 18 4.0 31 5.9 1,915
Multiple modes 13,270 40.1 110 23.8 163 31.1 1,593
Parcel, USPS or courier 13,171 39.9 105 22.9 156 29.8 1,592
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,431
Other and unknown modes 1,068 3.2 40 8.8 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 7,484 100.0 S S 688 100.0 1,044
Single modes 5,576 74.5 S S 626 90.9 400
Truck2 5,045 67.4 S S 611 88.8 217
Rail
All other Single modes 531 7.1 9 0.4 15 2.2 2,249
Multiple modes 1,684 22.5 37 1.7 46 6.7 1,602
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,682 22.5 37 1.7 46 6.6 1,602
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,815
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 1,732

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 30 100.0 S S S S S
Single modes 16 51.7 S S S S S
Truck2 16 51.7 S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S 9.7 907
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S 9.7 907
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes

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.