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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 11,084 100.0 7,650 100.0 1,198 100.0 312
Single modes 9,455 85.3 7,585 99.1 1,143 95.4 S
Truck2 8,061 72.7 6,158 80.5 936 78.1 S
Rail 288 2.6 S S 159 13.3 S
All other Single modes 1,106 10.0 S S S S 2,032
Multiple modes 1,425 12.9 27 0.4 16 1.3 776
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,410 12.7 27 0.4 16 1.3 780
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 136
Other and unknown modes S S 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 S S S S S S 44
Single modes S S S S S S 40
Truck2 S S S S S S 77
Rail S S S S S S 5
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 188
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 188
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 698 100.0 503 100.0 S S 152
Single modes 678 97.2 501 99.6 S S S
Truck2 678 97.2 501 99.6 S S S
Rail
All other Single modes
Multiple modes S S S S S S 579
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 579
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 6

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 297 100.0 1,280 100.0 227 100.0 S
Single modes 297 100.0 1,280 100.0 227 100.0 S
Truck2 72 24.4 273 21.3 41 17.9 S
Rail 224 75.6 993 77.6 157 69.0 S
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,091
Multiple modes
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes

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 531 100.0 1,722 100.0 S S S
Single modes 531 100.0 1,722 100.0 S S S
Truck2 531 100.0 1,722 100.0 S S 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 46

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 394 100.0 S S 14 100.0 S
Single modes 313 79.3 S S 9 67.3 S
Truck2 251 63.6 S S 7 48.5 S
Rail S S S S S S 7
All other Single modes S S 1.9 2,169
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 S S S S S S 281

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 518 100.0 179 100.0 45 100.0 422
Single modes 426 82.2 171 95.8 42 95.0 S
Truck2 425 82.0 171 95.8 42 94.7 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 2,648
Multiple modes S S S S S S 616
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 616
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S 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 1,676 100.0 3,140 100.0 566 100.0 506
Single modes 1,537 91.7 3,107 99.0 S S S
Truck2 1,435 85.6 3,102 98.8 S S S
Rail S S S S S S S
All other Single modes 98 5.9 3 3 0.6 2,303
Multiple modes 101 6.0 S S S S 1,518
Parcel, USPS or courier 101 6.0 S S S S 1,518
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 38 2.2 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 3,254 100.0 57 100.0 51 100.0 539
Single modes 2,131 65.5 49 85.2 46 91.4 S
Truck2 1,210 37.2 42 73.5 33 65.8 S
Rail
All other Single modes 921 28.3 7 11.7 13 25.6 2,090
Multiple modes 973 29.9 S S S S 990
Parcel, USPS or courier 973 29.9 S S S S 990
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 59

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 3,621 100.0 198 100.0 67 100.0 S
Single modes 3,448 95.2 192 96.9 65 96.9 S
Truck2 3,368 93.0 S S 63 95.0 S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 775
Multiple modes 171 4.7 S S 2 3.1 1,262
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S 2 3.1 1,319
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 136
Other and unknown modes 2 S S S S 12

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 1 100.0 S S S S 810
Single modes S S S S S S S
Truck2 S S S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 125
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,105
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,105
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 7

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.