USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Table 7. Shipment Characteristics by Commodity Group and Mode of Transportation for Metropolitan Area of Origin: 2007

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Table 7. Shipment Characteristics by Commodity Group and Mode of Transportation 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 Commodities5

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 113,500 100 73,944 100 17,045 100 520 5.2 - 12.6 - 24.1 - 8
Single modes 92,010 81.1 69,832 94.4 14,873 87.3 241 6.1 1.5 13.1 1.1 27.2 3.3 7
Truck6 89,141 78.5 63,797 86.3 11,391 66.8 230 5.9 1.3 10.3 2.8 12.6 4.9 6.3
For-hire truck 58,439 51.5 36,117 48.8 9,664 56.7 477 8.9 2.5 15.8 3.5 13.2 3.9 8.3
Private truck 30,701 27 27,679 37.4 1,726 10.1 61 9.1 2.4 10 4.5 13.2 1.5 9.3
Rail 1,519 1.3 S S S S 568 22.9 0.3 S S S S 23.7
Air (incl truck and air) 1,351 1.2 21 - 20 0.1 1,026 17.7 0.2 22.4 - 23.7 - 4.8
Pipeline7 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 18,721 16.5 3,028 4.1 1,779 10.4 705 10.4 1.7 17.1 1.2 21.7 3.6 5.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 16,027 14.1 421 0.6 312 1.8 704 10.2 1.4 11.3 0.1 15.8 0.5 5.4
Truck and rail 2,586 2.3 2,593 3.5 1,379 8.1 888 27.4 0.6 19.7 1.1 26.1 3.2 13.2
Truck and water 83 0.1 S S S S 3,071 50 - S S S S 34.6
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 2,769 2.4 1,084 1.5 S S S 29.4 0.7 41.6 0.3 S S S

SCTG2 01-05, Agriculture products and fish

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 888 100 928 100 S S 73 22.1 - 43.7 - S S 42
Single modes 862 97.1 893 96.3 S S 65 21.9 2 44.4 2.1 S S 37.3
Truck6 862 97.1 893 96.3 S S 65 21.9 2 44.4 2.1 S S 37.3
For-hire truck 64 7.2 S S 76 29 S 6.4 12.1 S S 3.9 17.3 S
Private truck 798 89.9 659 71 104 39.7 62 21.9 4.5 33.6 9.4 47.1 19.4 37.9
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Truck and rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

SCTG2 06-09, Grains, alcohol, and tobacco products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 6,366 100 5,121 100 788 100 66 26.7 - 21.9 - 34.7 - 15.9
Single modes 6,221 97.7 5,069 99 772 98 54 27.5 1.6 22.2 0.9 34.6 2.7 15.9
Truck6 6,221 97.7 5,069 99 772 98 54 27.5 1.6 22.2 0.9 34.6 2.7 15.9
For-hire truck 3,214 50.5 2,283 44.6 614 77.9 S 33.9 7.8 22.5 9.9 36.4 9.6 S
Private truck 3,008 47.2 2,785 54.4 158 20.1 33 27.2 7 30.3 9.8 37.3 7.8 22.5
Multiple modes 26 0.4 S S S S 436 45.9 0.6 S S S S 14.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S 1 0.1 434 S S S S 28.5 0.1 14.2
Truck and rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 118 1.9 45 0.9 S S S 49.3 2.4 48.8 1.3 S S S

SCTG2 10-14, Stones, nonmetallic minerals, and metallic ores

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 638 100 14,715 100 1,203 100 114 39.9 - 27 - 43.6 - 23.1
Single modes 620 97.2 14,610 99.3 1,182 98.2 84 41.3 3 27 0.3 42.9 0.6 13.8
Truck6 618 96.9 14,462 98.3 1,112 92.4 84 41.2 3 26.7 0.6 40 2.4 13.6
For-hire truck 450 70.5 9,804 66.6 856 71.2 101 42.8 8.8 34.9 7.6 43.2 6.2 16.5
Private truck 168 26.4 4,658 31.7 256 21.3 51 44 8.2 20.4 7.9 40.3 6.7 20.5
Rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S 845 S S S S S S 21.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 849 S S S S S S 31.2
Truck and rail S S S S S S 516 S S S S S S 23.4
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 16 S S S S S S 49.6

SCTG2 15-19, Coal and petroleum products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 9,916 100 11,486 100 489 100 S 35.4 - 32 - 20.9 - S
Single modes 9,874 99.6 11,466 99.8 484 99.1 S 35.4 0.1 32 0.1 21 0.7 S
Truck6 9,852 99.3 11,425 99.5 445 91 S 35.6 4.3 32.2 5.8 24.4 7.9 S
For-hire truck 3,057 30.8 3,656 31.8 217 44.5 S 47.7 7.3 45.4 6.1 32.7 9.8 S
Private truck 6,795 68.5 7,768 67.6 227 46.5 S 34 8.6 29.9 7.7 24.3 9.2 S
Rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S 231 S S S S S S 35.3
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 9 0.1 1 - - - 226 47 0.1 33.9 - 39 0.1 36
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 9 0.1 S S S S S 31.1 0.2 S S S S S

SCTG2 20-24, Basic chemicals, chemical, and pharmaceutical products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 18,227 100 S S S S 636 12.1 - S S S S 8.3
Single modes 14,883 81.7 11,607 94.3 S S 400 12.6 2.1 49.7 1.1 S S 11
Truck6 14,202 77.9 7,314 59.4 3,033 46.3 389 12.1 1.9 27.9 10.2 30.4 11.5 11.2
For-hire truck 11,783 64.6 5,436 44.2 2,774 42.4 617 14.1 2.9 33 8.4 32.3 10.2 5.1
Private truck 2,419 13.3 1,878 15.3 259 4 79 13.5 1.6 37.1 5.4 28.2 2.2 22.7
Rail 623 3.4 S S S S 787 46.9 1.3 S S S S 22.6
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 1,434 S S S S S S 41.7
Pipeline7 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 3,241 17.8 227 1.8 229 3.5 746 16 2.1 24.5 1.2 18 2.3 6.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 2,886 15.8 90 0.7 60 0.9 745 17 2.2 11.2 0.6 13.9 1 6.3
Truck and rail 331 1.8 133 1.1 146 2.2 1,798 21.9 0.6 37.7 1.3 24.4 2.3 13.2
Truck and water 23 0.1 S S S S 4,150 43.2 0.2 S S S S 38.6
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 103 0.6 S S S S S 49.9 0.2 S S S S S

SCTG2 25-30, Logs, wood products, and textile and leather

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 7,101 100 3,081 100 758 100 621 15.9 - 18 - 24.9 - 10.6
Single modes 5,755 81.1 2,992 97.1 699 92.1 284 19.6 5.2 18.7 1.2 26.7 2.8 17.1
Truck6 5,743 80.9 2,989 97 696 91.8 268 19.6 5.3 18.7 1.2 26.8 2.8 16.2
For-hire truck 3,825 53.9 1,744 56.6 628 82.8 501 25.3 6.5 25.3 5.6 28.5 3.6 13
Private truck 1,918 27 1,246 40.4 68 9 55 21.2 5.3 18.1 5.2 18.3 1.9 18.1
Rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 1,283 18.1 69 2.2 57 7.5 686 26.2 5.2 28.6 1.1 22.9 2.8 13.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,227 17.3 66 2.1 51 6.7 686 27.8 5.2 29.7 1.1 25 2.8 13.2
Truck and rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Truck and water S S S S S S 2,694 S S S S S S 3.9
Other and unknown modes 62 0.9 20 0.7 3 0.4 S 24.1 0.3 40.3 0.4 36 0.3 S

SCTG2 31-34, Base metal and machinery

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 29,810 100 18,007 100 4,746 100 418 6.9 - 11.9 - 8.9 - 10.2
Single modes 23,696 79.5 16,090 89.4 3,765 79.3 277 7.3 1.6 12.1 2.1 9.5 4.8 9.7
Truck6 23,049 77.3 15,198 84.4 3,638 76.6 270 7.6 1.7 10.6 2.4 8.9 4.6 9.8
For-hire truck 17,470 58.6 10,185 56.6 3,298 69.5 461 8.7 2.1 16.4 5.2 10.1 4.2 7.6
Private truck 5,579 18.7 5,013 27.8 340 7.2 70 12.3 2.3 19.7 5.4 13 1.8 16.6
Rail 505 1.7 890 4.9 126 2.6 S 40.6 1.8 41.1 3.4 29.5 1.8 S
Air (incl truck and air) 142 0.5 1 - 1 - 1,057 42.3 0.3 34 - 29.4 - 12.4
Multiple modes 5,383 18.1 1,532 8.5 877 18.5 562 12.3 1.6 28.2 2.3 29.5 5.2 10.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 3,990 13.4 98 0.5 55 1.2 562 13.4 1.3 12.2 0.1 11.3 0.2 10.5
Truck and rail 1,375 4.6 1,427 7.9 763 16.1 651 29 1.5 30.3 2.3 31 4.6 25.3
Truck and water - - - - S S S 5 - 10 - S S S
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 731 2.5 386 2.1 S S S 30.5 0.9 43.8 0.6 S S S

SCTG2 35-38, Electronic, motorized vehicles, and precision instruments

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 17,745 100 2,087 100 895 100 543 12.7 - 29.4 - 32.9 - 13.6
Single modes 11,200 63.1 1,653 79.2 525 58.7 281 14.9 4.9 27.3 5.1 20.7 9.1 32
Truck6 9,964 56.2 1,559 74.7 499 55.8 241 16.2 5.1 25.7 5.8 21.1 9.2 32.4
For-hire truck 7,386 41.6 1,050 50.3 458 51.2 557 19.5 4.9 21.8 7.7 21.4 9 10.2
Private truck 2,578 14.5 509 24.4 41 4.6 87 14.7 2.3 42.8 3.9 35 1.2 34.1
Rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) 1,073 6 14 0.7 13 1.4 953 21.3 1.4 35.5 0.6 37.6 1.2 8.3
Multiple modes 5,703 32.1 S S S S 755 21.7 4.1 S S S S 7.8
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 5,151 29 71 3.4 S S 755 20.3 3.8 37.8 1 S S 7.8
Truck and rail S S S S S S 786 S S S S S S 15.7
Other and unknown modes S S 33 1.6 20 2.2 S S S 36.7 1.3 38.4 2.2 S

SCTG2 39-43, Furniture, mixed freight and misc. manufactured products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 22,807 100 6,212 100 1,356 100 597 14.2 - 8 - 22 - 13.6
Single modes 18,896 82.9 5,450 87.7 1,195 88.1 270 15.3 3.2 6.2 2.9 20.9 2.8 18.8
Truck6 18,627 81.7 4,885 78.6 1,015 74.8 267 15.2 3.1 6.1 5.2 19.3 4.8 19.1
For-hire truck 11,191 49.1 1,725 27.8 743 54.8 616 27.7 6.7 15.2 4 22.2 5.4 10.3
Private truck 7,436 32.6 3,160 50.9 272 20.1 59 7 5.8 10 6.7 16.8 5.3 16.6
Rail 204 0.9 564 9.1 178 13.1 336 31.1 0.4 21.9 3.2 41.9 5.8 27.8
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 1,118 S S S S S S 41.9
Multiple modes 3,010 13.2 720 11.6 155 11.4 773 16.7 1.2 31.4 2.9 38.2 2.8 11.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 2,727 12 91 1.5 65 4.8 773 16.6 1.1 26.1 0.3 34 0.7 11.2
Truck and rail 276 1.2 627 10.1 89 6.6 484 21.7 0.4 28.5 3.4 40.4 3.3 46.3
Truck and water S S S S - - S S S S S 29.8 0.2 S
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S 42 0.7 7 0.5 S S S 46.9 0.4 28.4 0.2 S

SCTG2 99, Commodity Unknown

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Single modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Truck6 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
For-hire truck S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Private truck S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 8 S S S S S S 46

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 Standard Classification of Transported Goods.
3 Ton-miles estimates are based on estimated distances traveled along a modeled transportation network.
4 Coefficient of Variation.
5 Estimates exclude shipments of crude petroleum (SCTG 16).
6 "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.
7 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 row have no value. For example, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX by Base metal and machinery (31-34) by Water has no data for any shipment characteristic therefore the entire row is not shown. Also, entire commodity groups are not present if there is no such data for that commodity group by area. For example, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (DC part) by Coal and petroleum products (15-19) has no data for any mode therefore the entire commodity group is not shown.

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.