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.

Site Notification

Site Notification

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 158,703 100 174,630 100 51,566 100 667 10.6 - 14.5 - 8.1 - 9.3
Single modes 140,278 88.4 166,353 95.3 44,330 86 279 11.1 0.9 15.2 2.2 8 1.6 13.2
Truck6 136,339 85.9 159,787 91.5 35,464 68.8 247 11.2 1.4 15.9 2.3 6.7 4 14.5
For-hire truck 72,685 45.8 66,702 38.2 28,773 55.8 544 10.5 3.1 8.5 4.4 6.7 3.7 19.6
Private truck 63,654 40.1 93,085 53.3 6,691 13 55 19.5 3.7 27.3 5.2 21.3 2.6 6.8
Rail 1,890 1.2 5,789 3.3 8,636 16.7 1,655 28.7 0.5 44.3 1.2 37.1 4.3 10.9
Water 9 - 36 - 91 0.2 2,498 23.8 - 36.1 - 35.9 0.1 1.1
Deep draft 9 - 36 - 91 0.2 2,498 23.8 - 36.1 - 35.9 0.1 1.1
Air (incl truck and air) 1,516 1 S S S S 2,172 48.7 0.3 S S S S 9.1
Pipeline7 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 15,814 10 3,421 2 6,680 13 1,311 10.7 0.9 17 0.2 14.8 1.4 6.9
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 12,276 7.7 318 0.2 355 0.7 1,308 13.6 0.8 18.5 - 22 0.3 6.9
Truck and rail 2,537 1.6 2,689 1.5 5,659 11 2,313 19.1 0.3 22.5 0.3 17.8 1.6 5.5
Truck and water 1,001 0.6 414 0.2 667 1.3 2,208 47 0.3 45.9 0.1 25.9 0.3 8.7
Other and unknown modes 2,612 1.6 S S 555 1.1 S 24.1 0.3 S S 36.4 0.4 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 19,995 100 22,571 100 10,910 100 559 14.7 - 21 - 15.5 - 25.7
Single modes 18,726 93.7 21,962 97.3 10,176 93.3 385 15.7 2.1 21.4 0.9 15.8 1.7 37.2
Truck6 18,482 92.4 21,183 93.9 8,772 80.4 371 16.1 2.6 21.9 2.9 17.8 7.7 39.5
For-hire truck 12,205 61 10,400 46.1 7,277 66.7 1,115 20.6 5.6 17.3 6.1 21.8 8.7 16
Private truck 6,277 31.4 10,783 47.8 1,495 13.7 87 14.9 3.6 28.8 5.1 37.4 4.6 17.3
Rail S S S S S S 1,714 S S S S S S 20
Water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Deep draft 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 2,523 S S S S S S 3
Multiple modes 1,074 5.4 394 1.7 703 6.4 1,688 25.7 2 24.7 0.8 27.7 1.8 11
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 1,668 S S S S S S 16.3
Truck and rail 661 3.3 338 1.5 608 5.6 1,953 21.5 1.1 26.3 0.5 31.3 1.3 13
Truck and water S S S S S S 2,502 S S S S S S 4.5
Other and unknown modes 195 1 S S S S S 40.6 0.4 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 28,302 100 24,513 100 22,834 100 271 7.2 - 6.5 - 13.4 - 38
Single modes 26,026 92 22,494 91.8 18,058 79.1 181 6.3 1.4 5.7 1.3 15.1 4 46.5
Truck6 25,025 88.4 20,520 83.7 12,833 56.2 174 6.8 1.8 6.8 3.2 12.8 5.3 47.8
For-hire truck 17,303 61.1 14,213 58 12,300 53.9 1,036 9.4 4 6.8 3 13.4 4.9 8.4
Private truck 7,722 27.3 6,307 25.7 533 2.3 42 13.7 3.6 12.6 2.7 12.9 0.6 16.8
Rail 986 3.5 1,934 7.9 5,128 22.5 2,487 31.9 1.2 35.5 2.8 35.8 5.6 3.7
Water 7 - 34 0.1 85 0.4 2,492 20.5 - 21.5 0.1 21.5 0.3 -
Deep draft 7 - 34 0.1 85 0.4 2,492 20.5 - 21.5 0.1 21.5 0.3 -
Air (incl truck and air) - - 1 - 2 - 2,441 40.3 - 39.1 - 43.3 - 24
Pipeline7 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 1,922 6.8 1,732 7.1 4,498 19.7 1,291 26.2 1.3 20.7 1.1 20.1 3.7 24.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 1,182 S S S S S S 24.3
Truck and rail 1,635 5.8 1,632 6.7 4,225 18.5 2,583 25.6 1.1 20.7 1.1 20.2 3.7 3.4
Truck and water 143 0.5 87 0.4 258 1.1 2,896 46.9 0.2 40.7 0.1 49.7 0.4 13.1
Other and unknown modes 355 1.3 288 1.2 278 1.2 S 21.3 0.3 35.1 0.4 43.2 0.9 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 1,042 100 S S 2,254 100 68 40.6 - S S 42 - 48.7
Single modes 962 92.4 S S 2,019 89.6 56 44.1 3.9 S S 48 9.3 46.5
Truck6 939 90.1 S S S S 55 45.4 4.2 S S S S 44.7
For-hire truck 329 31.5 9,141 20 603 26.7 116 19.9 10.7 35.4 11.3 30.7 11.5 32.4
Private truck S S S S S S 35 S S S S S S 11.7
Rail 24 2.3 S S 147 6.5 2,005 46.9 5 S S 44.7 16.1 36.5
Multiple modes 21 2 S S S S 2,011 44.1 5.5 S S S S 33.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Truck and rail 20 1.9 S S S S 2,274 45.9 5.4 S S S S 29.8
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 10,535 100 17,639 100 1,667 100 43 32.7 - 27.8 - 28.3 - 13.1
Single modes 10,465 99.3 17,574 99.6 1,643 98.5 43 32.6 0.2 27.8 0.2 28.6 1 12.2
Truck6 9,763 92.7 16,570 93.9 1,013 60.7 40 31.3 2.7 26.6 2.5 29.6 11.6 9.2
For-hire truck 4,476 42.5 8,800 49.9 542 32.5 S 42.5 7.5 33.3 7.4 38.1 6.9 S
Private truck 5,287 50.2 7,770 44.1 471 28.2 38 23.2 9 21.9 7.7 26.3 12.1 10.9
Rail 188 1.8 293 1.7 558 33.5 1,996 30.6 7.1 47.2 6.4 42.4 19.7 7.9
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 3 - - - S S S 49.7 - 46.2 - S S S
Truck and rail S S 13 0.1 S S S S S 47.9 0.2 S S S
Other and unknown modes 46 0.4 S S S S 21 49.1 0.2 S S S S 26.6

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 10,265 100 6,130 100 1,334 100 558 11.5 - 33.7 - 28.3 - 18.9
Single modes 8,112 79 5,962 97.3 1,209 90.6 239 16.8 6.1 33.8 0.7 29.1 3.2 33.1
Truck6 8,052 78.4 5,787 94.4 1,060 79.4 214 16.6 6.1 32.1 1.2 20.9 5.4 31.1
For-hire truck 3,786 36.9 1,695 27.7 758 56.8 412 16.5 7.8 16.2 12.7 15.6 9 16.5
Private truck 4,266 41.6 4,092 66.8 S S S 32.5 9.7 45.7 12 S S S
Rail S S S S S S 1,026 S S S S S S 48.8
Water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Deep draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) 9 0.1 S S S S 2,742 38.4 0.1 S S S S 12
Pipeline7 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 1,988 19.4 89 1.5 S S 959 27.9 6.4 30.6 0.6 S S 22.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,954 19 42 0.7 21 1.6 958 29 6.5 32.8 0.7 26.1 0.9 22.9
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 2,726 S S S S S S 4.8
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S S S 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 12,870 100 13,551 100 4,219 100 1,262 20.2 - 19.1 - 17.4 - 10.8
Single modes 9,939 77.2 12,939 95.5 3,429 81.3 703 21 5.2 19.9 2 17 4.7 25.4
Truck6 9,748 75.7 12,219 90.2 2,956 70.1 658 21.5 5 19.1 2.4 16.9 6.1 25.3
For-hire truck 6,862 53.3 6,838 50.5 2,410 57.1 962 28.5 4.8 18.5 5 16.2 5.9 20.2
Private truck 2,886 22.4 5,381 39.7 547 13 47 12.6 3.8 32.1 4.9 29.7 2 13.2
Rail 176 1.4 S S 470 11.1 S 44.3 0.8 S S 24.1 2.4 S
Water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Deep draft 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 2,599 S S S S S S 9
Multiple modes 2,648 20.6 463 3.4 764 18.1 1,635 47.7 4.5 23.9 1.2 29.6 4.5 3.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 1,635 S S S S S S 3.7
Truck and rail 181 1.4 365 2.7 614 14.5 1,691 35.1 0.8 19.3 0.8 28 3.4 17.1
Truck and water S S S S 28 0.7 2,261 S S S S 42.2 0.3 8.7
Other and unknown modes S S 149 1.1 26 0.6 S S S 49.3 1.2 42.8 0.5 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 18,697 100 25,664 100 4,605 100 309 17.7 - 16.9 - 19.2 - 32.5
Single modes 15,887 85 24,799 96.6 4,388 95.3 188 17.8 3.1 17.3 1.7 18.5 1.4 49.7
Truck6 15,515 83 23,630 92.1 3,613 78.4 184 18.1 2.7 17.9 2.3 13.4 5.5 50
For-hire truck 10,760 57.6 11,031 43 3,008 65.3 326 23.2 6 23.6 6 13.6 4.9 48.1
Private truck 4,754 25.4 12,599 49.1 605 13.1 53 21.3 5.6 24.8 6.2 22.1 2.6 14.8
Rail 227 1.2 1,165 4.5 765 16.6 749 42 1 37.3 2.4 49.8 5.1 45.2
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 1,808 S S S S S S 14.6
Multiple modes 1,685 9 146 0.6 S S 711 22.5 2.3 37.7 0.3 S S 20.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,586 8.5 64 0.3 43 0.9 707 23.8 2.2 30.4 0.2 28 0.5 20.8
Truck and rail 14 0.1 66 0.3 S S S 8.2 0.2 19.9 1.1 S S S
Truck and water S S S S S S 2,620 S S S S S S 2.6
Other and unknown modes 1,125 6 719 2.8 14 0.3 S 42.8 1.7 39.7 1.6 38 0.2 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 15,331 100 1,875 100 966 100 767 22 - 26.4 - 41.2 - 13.7
Single modes 10,471 68.3 1,783 95.1 884 91.5 345 24.6 7.2 27 1.5 43.7 6.8 33.7
Truck6 9,338 60.9 1,771 94.4 859 88.9 228 23 7 27.1 1.6 43.1 7.6 26
For-hire truck 6,276 40.9 1,139 60.7 821 85 386 27.2 7 29.1 7.4 44.9 9.8 36.6
Private truck 3,062 20 632 33.7 37 3.9 57 26.4 4 35.3 7.4 21 4.1 24.9
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 2,017 S S S S S S 14.3
Multiple modes 4,565 29.8 69 3.7 79 8.2 1,236 20.7 7.1 21.5 1.2 24.5 6.8 5.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 4,546 29.7 68 3.6 77 8 1,236 20.7 7.1 21.7 1.2 24.9 6.8 5.1
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 295 1.9 24 1.3 3 0.3 S 42.8 0.8 38.7 0.7 47.9 0.5 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 41,613 100 16,902 100 2,773 100 1,142 25 - 28 - 18.8 - 14.1
Single modes 39,635 95.2 16,618 98.3 2,523 91 296 26.6 5.1 28.8 4.2 21.8 6.6 29.2
Truck6 39,423 94.7 16,602 98.2 2,486 89.6 271 26.6 5.1 28.9 4.2 21.9 6.5 32.3
For-hire truck 10,664 25.6 3,439 20.3 1,055 38 608 20.4 8.1 24.2 3.7 14.4 6.3 18.6
Private truck 28,759 69.1 13,162 77.9 1,431 51.6 88 38 8.9 31 4.5 33.8 7.5 6.1
Rail 6 - S S S S 2,662 44.3 - S S S S 13.7
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 2,231 S S S S S S 21.9
Multiple modes 1,888 4.5 S S S S 1,744 26.5 4.8 S S S S 8.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,303 3.1 42 0.2 56 2 1,745 23.2 1.2 24.3 0.2 42.5 1.3 8.6
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 90 0.2 S S S S S 45.7 0.4 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 55 100 15 100 1 100 S 42.4 - 37.5 - 42.5 - S
Single modes 55 99.8 15 100 1 100 100 28.1 0.1 17.9 - 28 - 42.4
Truck6 55 99.8 15 100 1 100 100 28.1 0.1 17.9 - 28 - 42.4
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 145 S S S S S S 27.5
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.