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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 158,703 100 174,630 100 51,566 100 667 10.6 - 14.5 - 8.1 - 9.3
Less than 50 lbs 12,797 8.1 293 0.2 214 0.4 876 16.9 0.8 17.6 - 19.5 0.1 12.0
50 - 99 lbs 4,153 2.6 200 0.1 92 0.2 434 25.4 0.6 19.2 - 29.4 0.1 10.6
100 - 499 lbs 11,928 7.5 1,255 0.7 354 0.7 308 21.3 1.2 16.8 0.2 28.9 0.4 13.3
500 - 749 lbs 3,757 2.4 621 0.4 138 0.3 226 19.0 0.3 11.5 0.1 10.3 - 15.4
750 - 999 lbs 2,531 1.6 613 0.4 104 0.2 166 21.3 0.3 12.5 0.1 11.0 - 12.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 23,721 14.9 11,700 6.7 3,618 7.0 291 8.8 1.5 8.8 0.8 12.6 0.8 13.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 84,122 53.0 91,296 52.3 27,702 53.7 310 13.5 3.0 12.4 3.2 7.1 4.2 9.5
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 10,928 6.9 44,598 25.5 5,024 9.7 106 13.7 0.7 18.5 1.7 13.7 1.2 10.5
More than 100,000 lbs 4,766 3.0 24,055 13.8 14,320 27.8 697 19.8 0.7 39.2 3.0 25.7 4.7 41.1

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 140,278 100 166,353 100 44,330 100 279 11.1 - 15.2 - 8.0 - 13.2
Less than 50 lbs 4,317 3.1 125 0.1 31 0.1 331 35.9 0.9 24.7 - 39.9 - 31.4
50 - 99 lbs 2,520 1.8 135 0.1 32 0.1 210 37.2 0.6 20.5 - 50.0 - 24.2
100 - 499 lbs 9,151 6.5 1,110 0.7 255 0.6 241 21.3 1.0 17.5 0.1 26.6 0.3 15.1
500 - 749 lbs 3,312 2.4 578 0.3 117 0.3 204 21.2 0.3 12.1 - 15.6 - 19.2
750 - 999 lbs 2,487 1.8 576 0.3 96 0.2 163 21.8 0.3 14.2 0.1 13.0 - 12.3
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 23,081 16.5 11,332 6.8 3,476 7.8 291 9.1 1.7 8.9 1.0 13.0 1.1 13.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 80,949 57.7 87,986 52.9 24,388 55.0 286 13.9 3.1 12.8 3.4 6.7 4.9 10.4
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 10,704 7.6 42,470 25.5 4,644 10.5 104 14.2 0.9 20.1 1.9 16.2 1.6 10.6
More than 100,000 lbs 3,755 2.7 22,040 13.2 11,291 25.5 S 25.4 0.8 41.9 3.1 30.6 5.3 S

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 136,339 100 159,787 100 35,464 100 247 11.2 - 15.9 - 6.7 - 14.5
Less than 50 lbs 3,946 2.9 123 0.1 27 0.1 282 38.1 0.9 24.9 - 45.9 0.1 36.0
50 - 99 lbs 2,158 1.6 129 0.1 15 - 106 36.5 0.6 18.6 - 32.8 - 34.7
100 - 499 lbs 8,728 6.4 1,106 0.7 249 0.7 235 21.1 1.0 17.6 0.1 27.0 0.4 15.6
500 - 749 lbs 3,175 2.3 577 0.4 114 0.3 200 21.2 0.3 12.1 - 16.2 0.1 19.6
750 - 999 lbs 2,480 1.8 576 0.4 95 0.3 162 21.8 0.3 14.2 0.1 13.1 - 12.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 22,951 16.8 11,319 7.1 3,445 9.7 287 9.0 1.8 8.9 1.0 13.2 1.2 13.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 80,472 59.0 87,703 54.9 23,828 67.2 281 14.1 3.0 12.9 3.2 7.1 2.9 10.5
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 10,676 7.8 42,404 26.5 4,555 12.8 102 14.2 1.0 20.1 2.0 16.6 1.8 10.6
More than 100,000 lbs 1,753 1.3 S S 3,135 8.8 S 22.3 0.3 S S 32.0 2.6 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 72,685 100 66,702 100 28,773 100 544 10.5 - 8.5 - 6.7 - 19.6
Less than 50 lbs 2,191 3.0 55 0.1 S S 527 36.6 0.8 28.0 - S S 32.7
50 - 99 lbs S S 45 0.1 12 - S S S 38.6 - 43.7 - S
100 - 499 lbs 5,039 6.9 299 0.4 203 0.7 655 24.1 1.4 16.1 0.1 31.5 0.4 28.4
500 - 749 lbs 1,071 1.5 118 0.2 83 0.3 705 26.0 0.3 21.3 - 22.5 0.1 16.2
750 - 999 lbs 1,185 1.6 120 0.2 67 0.2 538 37.4 0.4 25.6 - 16.7 - 23.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 11,485 15.8 3,821 5.7 2,911 10.1 798 12.5 2.3 15.0 0.7 15.2 1.2 10.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 43,067 59.3 38,272 57.4 19,719 68.5 548 13.1 2.9 7.4 2.6 7.5 3.3 10.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 6,096 8.4 21,509 32.2 3,283 11.4 140 13.7 0.7 15.0 2.7 19.3 1.9 10.5
More than 100,000 lbs 1,172 1.6 2,463 3.7 2,472 8.6 993 26.3 0.5 23.1 1.0 37.0 2.8 20.2

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 63,654 100 93,085 100 6,691 100 55 19.5 - 27.3 - 21.3 - 6.8
Less than 50 lbs 1,755 2.8 68 0.1 3 - 39 41.7 1.2 28.3 - 26.0 - 15.9
50 - 99 lbs 778 1.2 84 0.1 4 0.1 41 24.2 0.3 21.6 - 19.7 - 15.1
100 - 499 lbs 3,689 5.8 807 0.9 47 0.7 56 19.3 1.0 20.4 0.3 17.3 0.2 10.4
500 - 749 lbs 2,104 3.3 460 0.5 31 0.5 69 27.5 0.6 17.1 0.1 20.3 0.1 9.1
750 - 999 lbs 1,295 2.0 455 0.5 29 0.4 63 21.4 0.4 17.2 0.1 18.3 0.1 7.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 11,466 18.0 7,498 8.1 533 8.0 72 10.1 2.3 11.2 2.0 11.5 1.9 7.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 37,405 58.8 49,431 53.1 4,109 61.4 80 29.1 5.8 21.5 5.3 20.7 5.2 7.2
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 4,581 7.2 20,895 22.4 1,272 19.0 61 20.3 2.1 43.2 3.4 25.2 3.9 15.0
More than 100,000 lbs 582 0.9 S S S S 46 26.9 0.5 S S S S 25.2

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 1,890 100 5,789 100 8,636 100 1,655 28.7 - 44.3 - 37.1 - 10.9
Less than 50 lbs S S - - S S S S S 21.4 - S S S
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S 4 0.1 8 0.1 1,708 S S 17.0 0.1 19.0 0.1 36.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 366 19.3 240 4.1 455 5.3 1,921 29.8 3.6 25.9 1.5 23.4 2.0 11.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S 89 1.0 S S S S S 28.0 2.4 S
More than 100,000 lbs 1,488 78.7 5,479 94.6 8,084 93.6 1,674 33.0 4.0 46.0 1.6 38.6 2.3 11.4

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 9 100 36 100 91 100 2,498 23.8 - 36.1 - 35.9 - 1.1
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 8 89.9 36 98.0 89 98.0 2,503 25.8 4.4 34.1 0.8 34.0 0.8 1.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Deep 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 9 100 36 100 91 100 2,498 23.8 - 36.1 - 35.9 - 1.1
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 8 89.9 36 98.0 89 98.0 2,503 25.8 4.4 34.1 0.8 34.0 0.8 1.3
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 1,516 100 S S S S 2,172 48.7 - S S S S 9.1
Less than 50 lbs 368 24.3 S S S S 2,105 49.2 9.8 S S S S 10.7
50 - 99 lbs S S S S S S 2,524 S S S S S S 10.1
100 - 499 lbs 423 27.9 S S 6 10.6 1,488 36.2 8.7 S S 36.0 13.6 26.1
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S 3,100 S S S S S S 6.0
750 - 999 lbs S S - 0.7 S S 1,528 S S 42.8 5.4 S S 45.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 2,530 S S S S S S 9.4
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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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 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 15,814 100 3,421 100 6,680 100 1,311 10.7 - 17.0 - 14.8 - 6.9
Less than 50 lbs 7,786 49.2 144 4.2 182 2.7 1,334 9.1 3.3 16.2 1.0 18.4 0.8 6.9
50 - 99 lbs 1,556 9.8 58 1.7 60 0.9 1,019 22.9 1.3 29.7 1.1 41.1 0.8 11.1
100 - 499 lbs 2,585 16.3 100 2.9 98 1.5 963 30.7 2.9 26.7 1.8 38.5 1.3 14.2
500 - 749 lbs 377 2.4 16 0.5 20 0.3 1,213 48.5 0.8 35.3 0.4 43.5 0.3 18.2
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S 2,114 S S S S S S 28.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 2,610 S S S S S S 3.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 2,520 15.9 1,413 41.3 3,046 45.6 2,182 18.6 2.8 18.3 5.3 20.3 5.4 10.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 147 4.3 S S 1,761 S S 44.7 3.7 S S 19.5
More than 100,000 lbs 743 4.7 1,507 44.0 2,908 43.5 2,365 25.8 1.2 27.1 6.2 19.9 6.5 7.2

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 12,276 100 318 100 355 100 1,308 13.6 - 18.5 - 22.0 - 6.9
Less than 50 lbs 7,786 63.4 144 45.5 182 51.1 1,334 9.1 4.4 16.2 5.4 18.4 7.3 6.9
50 - 99 lbs 1,556 12.7 58 18.2 60 16.9 1,019 22.9 1.6 29.7 1.8 41.1 2.6 11.1
100 - 499 lbs 2,576 21.0 99 31.2 95 26.8 954 30.7 3.0 26.9 3.5 39.1 4.3 14.0
500 - 749 lbs S S 15 4.8 17 4.9 1,122 S S 37.4 1.5 49.4 1.6 18.8
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
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 2,537 100 2,689 100 5,659 100 2,313 19.1 - 22.5 - 17.8 - 5.5
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - 2,645 8.8 0.1 11.1 - 29.7 - 17.7
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 2,591 S S S S S S 8.6
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 1,669 65.8 1,030 38.3 2,462 43.5 2,360 20.2 7.5 23.4 5.9 23.3 6.6 7.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 142 5.3 S S 1,733 S S 46.3 4.5 S S 19.6
More than 100,000 lbs 743 29.3 1,507 56.0 2,908 51.4 2,365 25.8 8.1 27.1 6.6 19.9 7.6 7.2

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 1,001 100 414 100 667 100 2,208 47.0 - 45.9 - 25.9 - 8.7
Less than 50 lbs S S - - - - 2,578 S S 38.1 - 34.8 - 4.0
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs 8 0.8 1 0.2 2 0.3 2,637 40.7 4.2 40.8 0.4 41.3 0.4 22.9
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S 2,650 S S S S S S 2.5
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S 2,706 S S S S S S 2.8
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 2,618 S S S S S S 3.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S 382 92.4 583 87.5 1,725 S S 49.6 6.9 29.1 8.4 20.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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 2,612 100 S S 555 100 S 24.1 - S S 36.4 - S
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs S S 7 0.1 - - 37 S S 35.0 0.4 46.6 0.1 38.9
100 - 499 lbs 192 7.3 44 0.9 1 0.2 26 35.6 4.0 37.2 4.9 34.3 0.4 10.7
500 - 749 lbs 68 2.6 26 0.5 S S S 43.8 1.6 49.2 2.0 S S S
750 - 999 lbs S S S S 1 0.1 S S S S S 38.0 0.2 S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 547 21.0 335 6.9 57 10.2 S 24.8 5.0 40.0 9.5 24.2 11.1 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 653 25.0 S S 268 48.2 S 16.5 6.5 S S 36.4 7.1 S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 77 3.0 S S S S 51 28.2 1.8 S S S S 42.0
More than 100,000 lbs 268 10.3 509 10.5 S S S 22.1 3.7 29.0 14.7 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.