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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 4. Shipment Characteristics by Mode of Transportation and Shipment Size for Metropolitan Area of Origin: 2007

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Table 4. Shipment Characteristics by Mode of Transportation and Shipment Size for Metropolitan Area of Origin: 2007

Estimates are based on data from the 2007 Commodity Flow Survey. Because of rounding, estimates may not be additive.

Excel | CSV

All Modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 243,052 100 209,792 100 33,282 100 484 6.6 - 16.7 - 9.7 - 9.8
Less than 50 lbs 27,298 11.2 665 0.3 314 0.9 576 7.1 1.0 13.2 0.1 15.1 0.1 10.7
50 - 99 lbs 9,858 4.1 530 0.3 217 0.7 408 14.0 0.4 15.5 0.1 16.0 0.1 11.7
100 - 499 lbs 33,574 13.8 2,559 1.2 722 2.2 285 18.3 1.7 9.9 0.3 10.2 0.2 5.5
500 - 749 lbs 8,647 3.6 1,084 0.5 267 0.8 248 28.1 0.7 9.4 0.1 14.6 0.1 6.4
750 - 999 lbs 4,015 1.7 848 0.4 208 0.6 242 9.5 0.1 9.8 0.1 14.4 0.1 17.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 51,965 21.4 15,878 7.6 3,437 10.3 215 7.9 1.8 8.7 1.4 7.5 1.0 12.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 86,015 35.4 139,681 66.6 22,575 67.8 168 4.7 2.4 14.2 2.2 10.3 1.4 10.5
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 41,828 19.9 2,829 8.5 64 S S 38.9 3.6 22.8 1.4 38.5
More than 100,000 lbs 3,844 1.6 6,718 3.2 2,715 8.2 446 24.4 0.4 19.9 0.7 20.7 1.4 16.4

Single modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 205,833 100 202,626 100 30,442 100 257 7.3 - 17.0 - 10.2 - 11.7
Less than 50 lbs 8,649 4.2 239 0.1 69 0.2 293 13.3 0.5 19.5 - 27.8 0.1 18.0
50 - 99 lbs 5,173 2.5 248 0.1 64 0.2 263 21.2 0.5 12.6 - 15.4 - 8.6
100 - 499 lbs 25,472 12.4 2,084 1.0 513 1.7 250 22.3 1.8 9.5 0.2 9.1 0.1 6.3
500 - 749 lbs 8,150 4.0 1,032 0.5 249 0.8 243 28.5 0.8 9.4 0.1 14.6 0.1 6.8
750 - 999 lbs 3,885 1.9 798 0.4 206 0.7 256 9.5 0.1 10.5 0.1 14.5 0.1 15.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 50,470 24.5 15,449 7.6 3,331 10.9 214 8.0 2.0 9.0 1.4 7.8 1.0 12.4
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 83,805 40.7 136,788 67.5 21,607 71.0 164 5.1 2.9 14.0 2.5 10.6 1.1 10.7
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 41,587 20.5 2,622 8.6 61 S S 39.1 3.7 19.9 1.2 39.0
More than 100,000 lbs 2,454 1.2 4,401 2.2 1,781 5.9 428 36.8 0.5 25.6 0.6 28.7 1.3 20.7

Truck4

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 200,373 100 199,462 100 28,789 100 232 7.7 - 17.2 - 10.5 - 11.5
Less than 50 lbs 6,799 3.4 221 0.1 52 0.2 246 13.8 0.4 21.0 - 31.5 - 17.6
50 - 99 lbs 4,359 2.2 244 0.1 59 0.2 244 20.7 0.3 12.6 - 14.5 - 6.8
100 - 499 lbs 24,626 12.3 2,075 1.0 505 1.8 247 23.5 1.9 9.5 0.2 9.2 0.1 6.3
500 - 749 lbs 8,096 4.0 1,030 0.5 247 0.9 242 28.8 0.8 9.4 0.1 14.9 0.1 7.1
750 - 999 lbs 3,843 1.9 793 0.4 203 0.7 254 9.3 0.1 10.2 0.1 14.3 0.1 15.8
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 49,875 24.9 15,429 7.7 3,319 11.5 213 8.3 2.1 9.0 1.5 7.8 1.2 12.4
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 83,627 41.7 136,641 68.5 21,443 74.5 163 5.2 3.1 14.0 2.5 10.6 1.2 10.8
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 41,050 20.6 2,113 7.3 53 S S 39.8 3.7 26.3 1.4 42.1
More than 100,000 lbs S S 1,980 1.0 849 2.9 415 S S 46.6 0.4 49.8 1.1 25.2

For-hire truck

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 121,329 100 79,390 100 20,172 100 487 8.1 - 18.5 - 12.4 - 8.1
Less than 50 lbs 3,387 2.8 84 0.1 42 0.2 582 23.2 0.6 36.1 - 36.0 0.1 12.5
50 - 99 lbs 2,864 2.4 107 0.1 48 0.2 456 30.5 0.5 21.1 0.1 16.5 - 9.6
100 - 499 lbs 18,034 14.9 944 1.2 427 2.1 440 30.3 2.5 15.8 0.2 9.9 0.3 9.5
500 - 749 lbs 5,851 4.8 446 0.6 204 1.0 456 40.1 1.2 19.7 0.1 18.1 0.2 7.9
750 - 999 lbs 2,180 1.8 275 0.3 169 0.8 613 14.6 0.3 15.1 0.1 16.8 0.2 5.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 30,690 25.3 5,378 6.8 2,314 11.5 452 10.5 2.5 9.3 1.2 10.2 1.3 7.4
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 50,188 41.4 52,232 65.8 14,881 73.8 300 7.0 3.2 16.8 3.3 12.7 2.2 11.2
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 6,723 5.5 18,381 23.2 1,298 6.4 72 38.4 2.6 40.4 4.1 30.7 1.6 33.6
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 593 S S S S S S 17.9

Private truck

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 79,043 100 120,072 100 8,617 100 64 15.5 - 26.7 - 29.1 - 15.6
Less than 50 lbs 3,412 4.3 137 0.1 10 0.1 50 16.8 0.7 19.1 - 25.5 - 47.0
50 - 99 lbs 1,495 1.9 136 0.1 11 0.1 78 15.7 0.4 11.2 - 19.5 - 13.1
100 - 499 lbs 6,592 8.3 1,131 0.9 78 0.9 71 10.0 1.0 7.3 0.3 13.1 0.2 13.1
500 - 749 lbs 2,245 2.8 584 0.5 43 0.5 73 8.6 0.3 9.8 0.2 13.4 0.1 12.6
750 - 999 lbs 1,664 2.1 518 0.4 34 0.4 65 12.5 0.4 13.2 0.1 11.3 0.1 22.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 19,185 24.3 10,050 8.4 1,004 11.7 92 7.9 2.9 14.0 2.5 14.3 3.1 11.5
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 33,439 42.3 84,409 70.3 6,562 76.2 81 10.7 3.5 21.6 3.4 32.0 2.2 14.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S 815 9.5 S S S S S 47.8 1.5 S
More than 100,000 lbs 58 0.1 437 0.4 S S S 28.1 0.1 35.6 0.2 S S S

Rail

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 1,230 100 3,094 100 1,600 100 683 15.8 - 25.4 - 26.3 - 14.6
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
100 - 499 lbs 8 0.6 S S - - 533 13.5 1.0 S S 2.8 0.1 5.1
500 - 749 lbs 2 0.2 - - S S 554 25.1 0.3 41.6 - S S 46.8
750 - 999 lbs 2 0.2 - - S S 550 41.9 0.6 43.9 0.1 S S 25.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 30 2.5 4 0.1 3 0.2 S 46.6 2.1 46.8 0.4 40.4 0.8 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 158 12.8 144 4.7 S S 1,218 41.0 5.2 31.2 1.2 S S 26.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 98 8.0 537 17.4 S S 931 24.7 9.0 39.1 10.7 S S 23.7
More than 100,000 lbs 931 75.7 2,408 77.8 924 57.8 433 21.2 7.3 31.2 7.7 21.2 10.5 19.4

Water

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Shallow draft

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Air (incl truck and air)

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 4,228 100 69 100 53 100 1,044 25.6 - 26.4 - 29.0 - 12.7
Less than 50 lbs 1,850 43.8 S S S S 1,044 33.0 8.5 S S S S 14.6
50 - 99 lbs 815 19.3 S S S S 1,252 36.7 7.4 S S S S 13.6
100 - 499 lbs 838 19.8 9 12.5 7 14.1 828 31.0 8.2 40.5 8.2 25.9 6.0 49.3
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S 1,620 S S S S S S 23.8
750 - 999 lbs 39 0.9 S S S S S 36.7 10.2 S S S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S 9 17.4 S S S S S 33.5 10.5 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

Multiple modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 33,065 100 2,963 100 2,117 100 700 7.4 - 17.5 - 21.3 - 6.6
Less than 50 lbs 18,174 55.0 403 13.6 243 11.5 723 8.5 5.1 11.7 3.2 12.0 2.3 6.7
50 - 99 lbs 4,225 12.8 258 8.7 143 6.7 541 12.6 1.0 20.1 1.2 18.6 1.7 12.9
100 - 499 lbs 7,846 23.7 376 12.7 183 8.6 458 22.0 3.8 16.5 2.9 20.6 1.7 8.0
500 - 749 lbs 420 1.3 34 1.2 16 0.7 459 31.6 0.4 25.0 0.5 27.8 0.3 19.4
750 - 999 lbs 61 0.2 6 0.2 S S 257 28.8 0.2 25.9 0.2 S S 45.2
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S 35 1.6 S S S S S 47.0 0.6 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 1,057 3.2 361 12.2 500 23.6 1,240 27.2 0.8 22.0 3.4 28.4 5.6 17.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 57 0.2 S S S S S 12.7 0.8 S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 893 2.7 1,261 42.6 791 37.4 597 45.5 1.5 28.1 8.5 33.0 7.5 15.0

Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 30,622 100 1,069 100 584 100 700 6.9 - 11.5 - 10.6 - 6.6
Less than 50 lbs 18,170 59.3 403 37.7 243 41.5 722 8.5 5.1 11.7 3.9 12.0 4.7 6.7
50 - 99 lbs 4,216 13.8 257 24.1 143 24.4 541 12.5 1.2 20.1 2.2 18.6 3.7 12.9
100 - 499 lbs 7,825 25.6 372 34.8 182 31.2 461 22.0 4.2 16.7 3.9 20.7 4.1 7.7
500 - 749 lbs 359 1.2 33 3.0 16 2.7 477 38.4 0.5 26.9 0.7 28.2 0.7 18.0
750 - 999 lbs 52 0.2 4 0.4 S S 327 33.4 0.2 26.1 0.5 S S 47.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Truck and rail

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 1,640 100 1,739 100 1,284 100 S 30.9 - 26.5 - 32.4 - S
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs S S S S - - S S S S S 40.2 - S
100 - 499 lbs S S S S - - S S S S S 28.7 0.1 S
500 - 749 lbs S S S S - - S S S S S 37.7 - S
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 632 38.5 307 17.6 399 31.1 1,144 25.2 11.6 25.3 12.5 30.9 11.7 21.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs S S 1,173 67.5 673 52.4 589 S S 32.0 9.5 39.6 9.9 14.2

Truck and water

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 742 100 S S S S 2,381 31.2 - S S S S 16.9
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs S S - - - - 1,469 S S 38.1 0.5 45.8 0.4 18.5
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 2,208 S S S S S S 33.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,851 S S S S S S 3.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

Rail and water

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Other multiple modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Other and unknown modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average miles per shipment CV
2007
(million $)
Percent of total 2007
(thousands)
Percent of total 2007
(millions)
Percent of
total
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 4,154 100 4,203 100 723 100 S 14.4 - 41.4 - 44.6 - S
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs S S 25 0.6 S S 434 S S 43.4 0.4 S S 42.8
100 - 499 lbs 257 6.2 S S S S 229 29.0 2.1 S S S S 24.8
500 - 749 lbs 78 1.9 17 0.4 S S 102 49.4 1.0 24.7 0.4 S S 38.9
750 - 999 lbs S S S S - 0.1 S S S S S 23.2 0.3 S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 1,163 28.0 374 8.9 71 9.8 S 20.3 5.8 23.6 7.1 16.3 11.1 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 1,153 27.8 S S S S S 32.8 8.1 S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 2 0.1 S S 1 0.2 S 23.5 0.2 S S 47.1 1.6 S
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

KEY: S = Estimate does not meet publication standards because of high sampling variability or poor response quality. - = Zero or Less than half the unit shown; thus, it has been rounded to zero.

1 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) geographic areas were drawn from a subset of Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs) and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MeSAs) as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). However, CFS metropolitan areas are divided into their state parts when they include more than one state. In addition, the CFS also utilizes a unique geography referred to as, "remainder of state," to represent those areas of a state not contained within a separately published metropolitan area for the CFS (as opposed to not part of any Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) as defined by OMB). Because of the differences in the CFS geography, as compared to OMB defined geography, caution should be exercised when comparing CFS estimates to other estimates of similar geography.
2 Ton-miles estimates are based on estimated distances traveled along a modeled transportation network.
3 Coefficient of Variation.
4 ""Truck"" as a single mode includes any shipment that was made by private truck only, by for-hire truck only, or by a combination of private and for-hire truck.
5 Estimates for pipeline exclude shipments of crude petroleum.

NOTES: Value-of-shipment estimates are reported in current prices. Estimated measures of sampling variability for each estimate known as coefficients of variation (CV) are also provided in these tables. More information on sampling error, confidentiality protection, nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions may be found at http://www.bts.gov/publications/commodity_flow_survey/
Rows are not shown if all cells for that particular mode have no data. For example, since Denver-Aurora-Boulder by "Water" has no data for any shipment weight group, the entire mode of "Water" for that area was removed from this table. However, if a mode has at least one row of data for one of the shipment weight groups, then the entire mode is shown even though there may be rows absent of data within that mode. For example, Denver-Aurora-Boulder by "Other and unknown modes" has a row absent of data for the shipment size of "More than 100,000 lbs" but does have data for the other shipment weight groups under that mode so it will be shown in its entirety.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 Economic Census: Transportation Commodity Flow Survey, December 2009.