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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 113,500 100 73,944 100 17,045 100 520 5.2 - 12.6 - 24.1 - 8.0
Less than 50 lbs 18,967 16.7 252 0.3 136 0.8 601 17.9 2.1 14.2 0.1 18.1 0.2 7.9
50 - 99 lbs 3,195 2.8 163 0.2 67 0.4 407 7.9 0.2 7.1 - 8.1 0.1 9.4
100 - 499 lbs 11,153 9.8 954 1.3 316 1.9 348 8.1 0.6 8.5 0.2 5.8 0.3 10.0
500 - 749 lbs 3,546 3.1 567 0.8 201 1.2 356 7.5 0.1 10.5 0.1 18.9 0.3 23.2
750 - 999 lbs 2,384 2.1 450 0.6 123 0.7 272 10.5 0.2 12.8 0.1 13.2 0.1 11.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 25,961 22.9 7,324 9.9 2,175 12.8 295 6.7 1.3 9.5 1.3 9.4 1.7 6.6
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 37,318 32.9 39,315 53.2 8,421 49.4 223 5.5 1.6 9.4 2.4 16.7 2.8 9.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 7,988 7.0 15,855 21.4 1,109 6.5 65 30.5 2.0 25.2 3.5 19.1 1.3 22.9
More than 100,000 lbs 2,987 2.6 9,064 12.3 S S 492 12.0 0.3 39.6 2.5 S S 12.2

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 92,010 100 69,832 100 14,873 100 241 6.1 - 13.1 - 27.2 - 7.0
Less than 50 lbs 7,501 8.2 66 0.1 12 0.1 213 41.5 2.4 11.7 - 11.1 - 19.6
50 - 99 lbs 1,171 1.3 78 0.1 18 0.1 212 10.8 0.2 14.8 - 20.1 - 12.3
100 - 499 lbs 8,151 8.9 806 1.2 221 1.5 266 8.5 0.5 10.3 0.2 6.8 0.3 8.6
500 - 749 lbs 3,010 3.3 527 0.8 158 1.1 302 8.7 0.2 12.9 0.1 17.8 0.2 14.7
750 - 999 lbs 2,221 2.4 440 0.6 117 0.8 265 10.5 0.2 12.9 0.1 14.4 0.1 12.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 24,751 26.9 7,157 10.2 2,057 13.8 290 7.4 1.7 9.6 1.4 9.0 2.1 7.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 36,201 39.3 38,203 54.7 7,734 52.0 213 5.5 2.4 8.7 3.0 15.5 4.0 8.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 7,602 8.3 15,636 22.4 946 6.4 59 30.9 2.4 25.5 3.7 22.9 1.4 18.9
More than 100,000 lbs 1,402 1.5 S S S S 508 29.1 0.4 S S S S 21.6

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 89,141 100 63,797 100 11,391 100 230 5.9 - 10.3 - 12.6 - 6.3
Less than 50 lbs 7,131 8.0 65 0.1 11 0.1 187 44.1 2.5 12.1 - 12.9 - 19.7
50 - 99 lbs 1,135 1.3 77 0.1 17 0.1 204 10.8 0.2 15.2 - 21.6 - 12.3
100 - 499 lbs 7,855 8.8 804 1.3 220 1.9 264 8.3 0.5 10.3 0.2 6.7 0.2 8.6
500 - 749 lbs 2,933 3.3 526 0.8 156 1.4 301 9.1 0.2 13.0 0.1 18.1 0.2 14.7
750 - 999 lbs 2,147 2.4 439 0.7 115 1.0 263 10.3 0.2 13.0 0.1 14.6 0.1 12.7
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 24,240 27.2 7,140 11.2 2,030 17.8 287 7.7 1.7 9.6 1.4 9.2 1.4 7.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 35,965 40.3 38,085 59.7 7,698 67.6 212 5.5 2.5 8.7 2.8 15.6 2.2 8.7
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 7,390 8.3 15,334 24.0 899 7.9 57 30.3 2.4 25.0 3.6 23.3 1.4 20.1
More than 100,000 lbs 344 0.4 S S 246 2.2 S 37.6 0.1 S S 46.1 1.0 S

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 58,439 100 36,117 100 9,664 100 477 8.9 - 15.8 - 13.2 - 8.3
Less than 50 lbs S S 18 0.1 8 0.1 509 S S 34.4 - 18.1 - 16.1
50 - 99 lbs 520 0.9 23 0.1 13 0.1 546 19.4 0.2 17.3 - 23.0 - 12.5
100 - 499 lbs 4,854 8.3 361 1.0 190 2.0 522 10.3 0.6 10.3 0.2 6.5 0.2 10.0
500 - 749 lbs 2,010 3.4 275 0.8 136 1.4 500 11.8 0.3 20.8 0.3 19.4 0.2 18.1
750 - 999 lbs 1,504 2.6 210 0.6 101 1.0 481 13.7 0.3 19.8 0.2 15.9 0.1 12.7
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 16,523 28.3 3,471 9.6 1,714 17.7 498 8.3 1.9 9.8 2.3 9.6 1.7 7.5
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 23,877 40.9 22,423 62.1 6,626 68.6 325 10.0 3.1 15.5 3.4 16.8 2.4 6.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,058 5.2 8,377 23.2 643 6.7 74 39.0 2.0 31.3 3.8 27.7 1.5 17.3
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S 232 2.4 S S S S S 48.4 1.2 S

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 30,701 100 27,679 100 1,726 100 61 9.1 - 10.0 - 13.2 - 9.3
Less than 50 lbs 1,269 4.1 46 0.2 2 0.1 46 18.1 0.7 12.8 - 23.8 - 22.6
50 - 99 lbs 615 2.0 54 0.2 3 0.2 58 14.0 0.3 18.6 0.1 24.0 - 13.6
100 - 499 lbs 3,001 9.8 444 1.6 30 1.7 68 12.3 1.3 17.2 0.3 21.5 0.4 7.0
500 - 749 lbs 923 3.0 252 0.9 20 1.2 78 8.0 0.2 13.6 0.1 14.1 0.2 12.5
750 - 999 lbs 643 2.1 228 0.8 14 0.8 63 9.0 0.2 15.2 0.1 12.7 0.1 12.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 7,717 25.1 3,669 13.3 316 18.3 86 9.5 3.4 13.4 2.3 13.6 1.4 9.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 12,089 39.4 15,662 56.6 1,071 62.1 68 14.6 2.2 8.7 2.4 14.4 2.5 11.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 4,333 14.1 6,957 25.1 256 14.8 37 29.2 3.2 24.1 4.4 22.1 2.9 24.7
More than 100,000 lbs 113 0.4 367 1.3 13 0.8 S 48.0 0.3 37.2 0.7 37.9 0.4 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 1,519 100 S S S S 568 22.9 - S S S S 23.7
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 31 2.0 7 0.1 15 0.4 2,228 30.1 7.2 31.7 1.2 40.2 4.6 17.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 192 12.6 S S 33 1.0 S 41.0 6.7 S S 44.0 3.7 S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 211 13.9 S S S S S 44.7 13.2 S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 1,058 69.7 S S S S 595 32.4 11.5 S S S S 15.7

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 1,351 100 21 100 20 100 1,026 17.7 - 22.4 - 23.7 - 4.8
Less than 50 lbs 370 27.4 1 5.6 1 4.9 1,019 22.6 6.1 19.7 2.6 15.4 1.6 5.1
50 - 99 lbs 36 2.6 1 3.8 1 3.9 1,037 34.8 0.8 43.1 2.7 48.5 2.7 12.0
100 - 499 lbs 296 21.9 2 8.4 2 8.6 1,017 21.5 6.1 18.9 4.0 20.9 4.7 8.2
500 - 749 lbs 51 3.8 S S 1 5.3 1,206 43.2 4.5 S S 43.6 3.8 15.3
750 - 999 lbs 74 5.5 1 6.2 1 6.4 1,036 45.3 2.9 37.2 2.6 37.7 1.6 31.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 480 35.5 10 49.0 12 57.6 1,353 26.6 7.1 27.2 7.1 31.7 6.8 30.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 44 3.2 S S S S 568 17.4 8.2 S S S S 0.8
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Pipeline5

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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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 18,721 100 3,028 100 1,779 100 705 10.4 - 17.1 - 21.7 - 5.4
Less than 50 lbs 10,557 56.4 180 5.9 124 7.0 707 10.6 3.4 18.8 2.4 19.3 3.2 5.5
50 - 99 lbs 1,979 10.6 81 2.7 49 2.8 609 12.9 0.6 9.4 1.0 12.7 0.8 9.2
100 - 499 lbs 2,836 15.1 123 4.1 92 5.2 740 13.5 1.9 10.7 1.2 13.3 1.2 11.9
500 - 749 lbs 518 2.8 S S S S 1,321 37.8 0.6 S S S S 17.9
750 - 999 lbs S S 5 0.2 S S 1,033 S S 34.8 0.1 S S 16.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 227 1.2 25 0.8 54 3.0 2,023 42.1 0.6 23.7 0.5 31.2 1.7 16.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 612 3.3 314 10.4 396 22.2 1,325 25.4 0.4 25.5 2.4 25.2 6.1 19.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 165 5.4 S S 778 S S 49.0 2.6 S S 35.5
More than 100,000 lbs 1,580 8.4 2,103 69.5 886 49.8 450 28.0 2.2 19.7 5.3 30.9 8.1 16.4

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 16,027 100 421 100 312 100 704 10.2 - 11.3 - 15.8 - 5.4
Less than 50 lbs 10,556 65.9 180 42.7 124 39.7 707 10.6 2.6 18.8 3.4 19.3 3.9 5.5
50 - 99 lbs 1,979 12.3 81 19.2 49 15.8 609 12.9 0.6 9.4 1.2 12.7 1.0 9.2
100 - 499 lbs 2,834 17.7 123 29.3 92 29.3 737 13.5 2.1 10.6 3.1 13.0 3.5 11.9
500 - 749 lbs 511 3.2 S S S S 1,321 38.5 0.7 S S S S 18.4
750 - 999 lbs S S 5 1.1 S S 1,064 S S 37.7 0.6 S S 17.8
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 2,586 100 2,593 100 1,379 100 888 27.4 - 19.7 - 26.1 - 13.2
Less than 50 lbs S S - - S S S S S 44.3 - S S S
50 - 99 lbs S S - - S S 1,959 S S 37.8 - S S 37.3
100 - 499 lbs 1 - - - S S S 46.9 0.3 39.0 - S S S
500 - 749 lbs S S - - - - 2,566 S S 10.1 - 9.7 0.1 0.4
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 185 7.2 20 0.8 36 2.6 1,702 38.4 3.8 27.6 0.8 28.9 2.4 17.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 569 22.0 311 12.0 386 28.0 1,278 28.0 6.6 26.0 3.4 26.3 8.8 20.1
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 165 6.4 S S 778 S S 49.0 3.0 S S 35.5
More than 100,000 lbs 1,563 60.4 2,097 80.9 827 60.0 424 28.0 8.3 19.6 3.8 30.8 8.6 16.2

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 83 100 S S S S 3,071 50.0 - S S S S 34.6
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs S S S S S S 8,307 S S S S S S 36.6
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S 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 4,799 S S S S S S 45.4
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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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 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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

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 2,769 100 1,084 100 S S S 29.4 - 41.6 - S S S
Less than 50 lbs S S 6 0.6 - 0.1 S S S 43.3 0.4 30.2 0.2 S
50 - 99 lbs 45 1.6 4 0.4 - 0.1 S 43.3 0.5 33.2 0.4 28.5 0.2 S
100 - 499 lbs 167 6.0 24 2.2 2 0.5 S 36.4 3.4 28.6 2.1 26.7 1.1 S
500 - 749 lbs 18 0.6 7 0.7 1 0.1 S 24.4 1.1 29.1 0.8 29.4 1.7 S
750 - 999 lbs 13 0.5 5 0.5 1 0.2 S 23.9 1.2 23.1 1.5 28.7 0.5 S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 983 35.5 142 13.1 64 16.3 397 38.0 5.6 19.6 11.4 33.9 15.4 21.6
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 505 18.2 S S S S 343 31.5 6.5 S S S S 15.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S 500 S S S S S S 42.1
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 25 S S S S S S 34.2

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.