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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 21,486 100.0 32,140 100.0 9,372 100.0 247
Single modes 18,895 87.9 30,195 93.9 8,677 92.6 180
Truck2 16,556 77.1 20,605 64.1 4,855 51.8 141
Rail 1,000 4.7 5,451 17.0 2,685 28.7 492
All other Single modes 1,339 6.2 4,139 12.9 1,136 12.1 1,522
Multiple modes 1,815 8.4 264 0.8 S S 457
Parcel, USPS or courier 1,708 7.9 55 0.2 27 0.3 456
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 776 3.6 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 378 100.0 853 100.0 712 100.0 S
Single modes 371 98.1 850 99.7 712 100.0 S
Truck2 271 71.7 S S S S 44
Rail
All other Single modes 100 26.4 768 90.1 709 99.5 923
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,029
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 1,029
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 71

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 1,109 100.0 735 100.0 S S S
Single modes 1,052 94.9 721 98.1 S S S
Truck2 1,052 94.9 721 98.1 S S S
Rail
All other Single modes S S S S S S 834
Multiple modes S S S S S S 157
Parcel, USPS or courier
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 157
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 111

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 23 100.0 4,881 100.0 124 100.0 24
Single modes 23 100.0 4,881 100.0 124 100.0 24
Truck2 23 100.0 4,881 100.0 124 100.0 24
Rail
All other Single modes
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 3,313 100.0 11,427 100.0 1,809 100.0 82
Single modes 3,073 92.8 10,690 93.6 1,782 98.5 90
Truck2 S S 5,920 51.8 588 32.5 68
Rail 589 17.8 1,776 15.5 1,163 64.3 653
All other Single modes S S S S S S 75
Multiple modes S S S S S S 63
Parcel, USPS or courier S S S S S S 274
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 3
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 38

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 2,289 100.0 4,263 100.0 2,539 100.0 S
Single modes 1,254 54.8 3,787 88.8 2,332 91.8 S
Truck2 1,014 44.3 1,576 37.0 565 22.3 S
Rail 174 7.6 1,858 43.6 1,400 55.1 753
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,059
Multiple modes S S S S S S S
Parcel, USPS or courier S S 11 0.2 2 S
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 666
Other and unknown modes 204 8.9 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 1,585 100.0 1,048 100.0 310 100.0 466
Single modes 1,483 93.5 1,027 98.0 301 96.9 384
Truck2 1,456 91.8 1,010 96.3 282 90.9 229
Rail S S S S S S 1,551
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,649
Multiple modes 88 5.6 S S S S 631
Parcel, USPS or courier 88 5.6 S S S S 631
All other Multiple modes
Other and unknown modes 14 0.9 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 7,075 100.0 6,124 100.0 3,165 100.0 390
Single modes 6,461 91.3 5,439 88.8 2,720 86.0 355
Truck2 6,342 89.6 5,299 86.5 2,622 82.8 310
Rail S S S S S S 568
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,661
Multiple modes 423 6.0 S S S S 449
Parcel, USPS or courier 357 5.0 S S S S 444
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,962
Other and unknown modes 191 2.7 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 2,958 100.0 200 100.0 166 100.0 398
Single modes 2,514 85.0 195 97.6 163 98.1 407
Truck2 2,179 73.7 192 95.9 157 94.5 S
Rail S S S S S S 2,310
All other Single modes 304 10.3 S S S S 1,397
Multiple modes 400 13.5 4 2.0 3 1.8 491
Parcel, USPS or courier 377 12.7 S S S S 490
All other Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,363
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 2,718 100.0 S S 368 100.0 S
Single modes 2,630 96.8 S S 367 99.6 S
Truck2 2,429 89.3 909 35.1 338 91.8 S
Rail S S S S S S 17
All other Single modes S S S S S S 1,340
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 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 37 100.0 S S S S S
Single modes S S S S S S S
Truck2 S S S S S S S
Rail
All other Single modes
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 39

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.