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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 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 239,881 100 121,063 100 29,529 100 383 9.9 - 8.2 - 11 - 10.7
Single modes 200,327 83.5 113,203 93.5 24,038 81.4 166 10.7 1.2 8.3 1.4 9.9 2.3 11
Truck6 166,839 69.6 97,546 80.6 18,242 61.8 157 9.9 2.8 5.5 3.8 10 4.2 9.4
For-hire truck 90,749 37.8 50,266 41.5 14,289 48.4 505 13.8 2.6 10.8 3.3 10.6 3.3 8.7
Private truck 76,090 31.7 47,280 39.1 3,953 13.4 52 11.6 3.3 8.4 4.3 14.4 1.9 7.7
Rail 29,256 12.2 9,260 7.6 5,564 18.8 920 24.4 2.4 18.1 1.7 21.8 3.2 15.7
Water S S S S S S 9 S S S S S S -
Great Lakes S S S S S S 9 S S S S S S -
Air (incl truck and air) 773 0.3 20 - 20 0.1 1,052 43.8 0.1 40.5 - 40.5 - 8.4
Pipeline7 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 36,455 15.2 5,532 4.6 4,327 14.7 721 11 1.2 25.2 0.9 20.2 1.6 7.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 16,692 7 385 0.3 277 0.9 707 12.5 1.3 15.2 0.1 23.3 0.2 7.6
Truck and rail 19,529 8.1 5,093 4.2 3,829 13 1,496 19.5 1.1 26.5 0.9 21 1.5 11.2
Truck and water 145 0.1 33 - 108 0.4 3,852 38.4 - 35 - 33.2 0.1 27.2
Rail and water 79 - 12 - 90 0.3 8,127 31.4 0.1 29.9 - 13 0.8 17.6
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 3,099 1.3 2,328 1.9 1,164 3.9 S 16.2 0.4 34.5 0.8 49.2 1.6 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 4,660 100 6,476 100 S S 178 16.6 - 40.7 - S S 38.6
Single modes 4,598 98.7 6,456 99.7 S S 54 16.9 0.9 40.8 0.4 S S 36.5
Truck6 4,481 96.2 5,565 85.9 443 47.6 54 17.8 2.8 33.5 5 44.1 17.5 36.4
For-hire truck 1,523 32.7 S S S S S 29.8 9.9 S S S S S
Private truck 2,958 63.5 2,979 46 S S 43 17.4 9.2 40.2 16.3 S S 22.4
Rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,011 S S S S S S 30.8
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 1,011 S S S S S S 30.8
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 16 S S S S S S 38.4

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 7,319 100 5,826 100 1,208 100 139 17.9 - 24.9 - 40.2 - 28.1
Single modes 7,154 97.7 5,791 99.4 1,168 96.6 55 18.6 2.5 25.1 0.7 40.6 7.9 20.8
Truck6 7,154 97.7 5,791 99.4 1,168 96.6 55 18.6 2.5 25.1 0.7 40.6 7.9 20.8
For-hire truck 2,335 31.9 1,611 27.7 914 75.7 406 40.2 9.4 40.8 6.8 44.6 12.1 19.1
Private truck 4,819 65.8 4,180 71.7 253 21 33 14.6 7.7 20.1 6.6 35.6 13.9 8.3
Multiple modes S S S S 41 3.4 685 S S S S 44.1 10 41.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 684 S S S S S S 29.2
Truck and rail 15 0.2 12 0.2 30 2.4 2,533 40.7 0.2 35 0.2 38 6.1 3.1
Other and unknown modes S S 2 - S S S S S 18.5 0.1 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 S S 15,675 100 2,337 100 554 S S 22.6 - 39.4 - 27.4
Single modes S S 14,232 90.8 2,053 87.8 191 S S 23.9 4.6 40.1 6.3 24.2
Truck6 S S 13,882 88.6 2,022 86.5 192 S S 24.6 6 41 6.8 24.1
For-hire truck S S 5,895 37.6 1,773 75.9 425 S S 23.9 5.6 44.9 13.2 22.9
Private truck S S 7,986 51 248 10.6 33 S S 30.2 6.5 24.2 12.1 14.8
Rail S S 350 2.2 S S S S S 23.6 4.7 S S S
Multiple modes S S 846 5.4 S S 1,627 S S 49.9 6.7 S S 29.9
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 1,769 S S S S S S 26.8
Truck and rail 6 0.9 837 5.3 69 2.9 102 48.2 9 40.9 10.4 40.1 16.9 12.9
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

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 10,381 100 16,957 100 1,119 100 77 33.7 - 38.5 - 36.7 - 35.4
Single modes 10,332 99.5 16,951 100 1,109 99.1 66 33.9 0.7 38.5 0.1 37.2 2 37
Truck6 6,679 64.3 10,146 59.8 707 63.1 64 25.7 12.1 28.4 13.1 45.9 10.4 38.1
For-hire truck 2,806 27 4,888 28.8 S S 159 41.1 7.4 42.6 7.4 S S 34.4
Private truck 3,872 37.3 5,258 31 215 19.3 30 26.4 10.2 25.5 10.5 32 6.4 28.7
Rail 194 1.9 427 2.5 190 17 417 26.7 0.6 31.4 1.3 30.7 4.9 27.9
Water S S S S S S 9 S S S S S S -
Great Lakes S S S S S S 9 S S S S S S -
Pipeline7 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 9 0.1 1 - S S S 33 - 40.1 - S S S
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 S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 60 S S S S S S 36.9

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 15,826 100 5,547 100 2,587 100 380 16.6 - 22.6 - 35.5 - 17.6
Single modes 10,667 67.4 4,672 84.2 1,890 73.1 297 9.9 7.2 17.6 5.8 23.5 7.3 21.6
Truck6 10,313 65.2 4,266 76.9 1,553 60 293 10.6 6.5 14.4 6.1 22 8.5 21.9
For-hire truck 6,900 43.6 2,900 52.3 1,407 54.4 630 15.5 5.2 20.8 6 24.1 8.8 8.8
Private truck 3,413 21.6 1,366 24.6 146 5.7 47 17.7 4.2 20.9 6.8 40.1 2.3 12.3
Rail 296 1.9 S S S S 955 17.8 1.4 S S S S 42.6
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S 4 0.1 840 S S S S 47 0.4 19.8
Multiple modes 5,003 31.6 92 1.7 135 5.2 475 38.2 7.3 25.8 0.3 41.8 2.1 21.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 4,933 31.2 63 1.1 S S 472 38.7 7.3 33.3 0.2 S S 21.7
Truck and rail 33 0.2 18 0.3 S S 1,719 43.7 0.3 46 0.7 S S 29.3
Truck and water S S S S 14 0.6 7,745 S S S S 47.3 4 5.3
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 156 1 S S S S 408 43.4 0.8 S S S S 32.1

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 4,824 100 2,156 100 685 100 363 15.2 - 14.4 - 21.3 - 18.9
Single modes 3,826 79.3 2,062 95.7 633 92.4 132 18.2 6.7 14.9 2.1 20.9 4.4 40.3
Truck6 3,809 78.9 2,059 95.5 630 91.9 108 18.3 6.6 15 2.1 21.1 4.3 31.6
For-hire truck 2,249 46.6 1,059 49.1 554 80.9 387 19.8 5.7 24.1 6.1 22.8 7.3 16.9
Private truck 1,560 32.3 1,000 46.4 76 11 26 25.6 4.6 10.9 5 16.6 3.4 26.2
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 1,109 S S S S S S 23.6
Multiple modes 927 19.2 76 3.5 51 7.4 615 28.4 6 45.1 1.9 39.9 4.2 10.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 920 19.1 43 2 28 4.1 614 28.8 6.1 32.3 1.6 31.5 4.5 10.2
Truck and rail S S S S S S 569 S S S S S S 22.3
Truck and water S S S S S S 9,325 S S S S S S 17.3
Other and unknown modes 72 1.5 17 0.8 S S 41 44.4 1 27.1 0.4 S S 26.8

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 55,915 100 44,330 100 8,831 100 305 13.2 - 9.9 - 13.6 - 13.1
Single modes 49,108 87.8 41,728 94.1 7,735 87.6 123 15.3 2.1 9.3 1.8 14.1 3.4 15
Truck6 45,161 80.8 37,881 85.5 6,504 73.6 119 15.6 2.9 10.5 3.9 16.5 7.1 15
For-hire truck 28,004 50.1 20,672 46.6 4,711 53.4 353 26.2 6.1 17.1 5.6 19.7 6.8 7.3
Private truck 17,158 30.7 17,209 38.8 1,792 20.3 50 23.8 5.3 17.7 6.7 30.9 5.5 11.7
Rail 3,861 6.9 3,845 8.7 1,228 13.9 285 28.4 2 31.2 2.8 38.2 4.9 24.5
Air (incl truck and air) 86 0.2 S S S S 937 42.2 0.1 S S S S 10.9
Multiple modes 6,241 11.2 S S 797 9 554 18.7 2.1 S S 30.7 3.1 11.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 3,595 6.4 82 0.2 47 0.5 556 16.4 1.1 16.5 0.1 27.6 0.2 11.7
Truck and rail 2,594 4.6 S S 717 8.1 386 40.4 2.2 S S 31.6 3.4 49.6
Truck and water S S S S S S 1,829 S S S S S S 16.4
Other and unknown modes 566 1 S S S S 94 29.4 0.3 S S S S 37.7

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 125,474 100 17,801 100 10,813 100 565 15.1 - 17.7 - 23.7 - 11.4
Single modes 101,838 81.2 15,293 85.9 7,598 70.3 307 15.6 1.4 17.9 1.3 23.5 3.6 21.7
Truck6 76,664 61.1 12,492 70.2 4,462 41.3 284 14.6 4.8 19.1 3.8 27.1 4.5 19.3
For-hire truck 42,160 33.6 7,872 44.2 3,601 33.3 724 17 3.2 22 4.2 28.4 2.9 8.9
Private truck 34,504 27.5 4,620 26 861 8 83 19.1 4.7 18.9 3.5 28 2.7 16.6
Rail 24,655 19.6 2,789 15.7 3,123 28.9 1,245 28.3 4 28 3.5 27.5 5.2 11
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S 13 0.1 1,104 S S S S 49.8 0.1 8.5
Multiple modes 21,948 17.5 2,292 12.9 3,135 29 876 17.4 1.3 22 1.3 28.3 3 9.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 5,045 4 98 0.5 89 0.8 838 17.1 0.8 26.7 0.2 41.2 0.5 9.5
Truck and rail 16,805 13.4 2,181 12.3 2,957 27.3 1,731 20.6 1.3 22.8 1.3 29.2 2.9 8.3
Truck and water 46 - 8 - 49 0.5 4,912 40.6 - 37.2 - 49.6 0.2 31.2
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 1,688 1.3 217 1.2 S S S 27.9 0.9 34.4 0.7 S S 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 14,815 100 6,252 100 1,015 100 425 10.8 - 26.5 - 20.6 - 15.7
Single modes 12,275 82.9 5,976 95.6 921 90.7 103 12 2.3 25.9 0.9 22.5 4.4 26.4
Truck6 12,055 81.4 5,421 86.7 752 74.1 101 11.7 2.2 22.8 3.2 15.4 5.4 25.3
For-hire truck 4,488 30.3 2,782 44.5 540 53.2 305 15.3 5.1 34.2 5.3 17.8 5.5 19.3
Private truck 7,567 51.1 2,639 42.2 212 20.8 56 16.1 4.8 15.3 6 12.7 3 13.9
Rail S S S S 168 16.6 307 S S S S 33.3 10.3 30.7
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S - - 1,079 S S S S 45.7 - 10.1
Multiple modes 2,084 14.1 96 1.5 65 6.4 850 13.3 2.3 25 1 31.3 4.2 7.8
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 2,014 13.6 72 1.1 54 5.3 849 14.4 2.5 26.7 1 34.8 3.8 7.8
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 S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 456 3.1 S S S S S 45.1 1 S S S S 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 45 100 S S S S 52 39.8 - S S S S 17.8
Single modes 45 99.1 S S S S 53 38.1 1.2 S S S S 19.3
Truck6 45 99.1 S S S S 53 38.1 1.2 S S S S 19.3
For-hire truck 7 15.9 S S S S S 6.9 10.2 S S S S S
Private truck 38 83.2 S S S S 42 35.8 5.8 S S S S 12.2
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

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.