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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 96,545 100 130,040 100 31,230 100 502 8.8 - 13.0 - 15.1 - 13.8
Less than 50 lbs 6,474 6.7 207 0.2 90 0.3 608 12.6 1.1 32.7 - 32.0 0.1 12.7
50 - 99 lbs 1,377 1.4 107 0.1 30 0.1 284 16.7 0.2 33.6 - 38.4 - 20.7
100 - 499 lbs 4,390 4.5 563 0.4 146 0.5 273 15.9 0.6 22.9 0.1 22.2 0.1 18.6
500 - 749 lbs 1,296 1.3 308 0.2 58 0.2 190 11.4 0.1 29.1 - 10.9 - 16.6
750 - 999 lbs 1,171 1.2 299 0.2 49 0.2 162 16.2 0.2 29.3 0.1 10.6 - 34.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 16,742 17.3 6,642 5.1 1,439 4.6 197 13.7 1.4 33.6 1.0 13.6 0.5 20.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 40,928 42.4 41,301 31.8 10,480 33.6 253 4.8 2.7 8.7 3.1 8.2 3.6 11.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 13,456 13.9 54,526 41.9 5,685 18.2 105 20.7 1.9 21.3 4.4 14.6 2.6 11.5
More than 100,000 lbs 10,711 11.1 26,087 20.1 13,252 42.4 528 30.1 2.4 26.6 4.0 31.6 5.3 9.6

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 85,592 100 126,269 100 29,050 100 197 9.2 - 13.3 - 15.6 - 14.3
Less than 50 lbs 1,627 1.9 61 - S S 205 20.2 0.5 21.0 - S S 20.2
50 - 99 lbs 553 0.6 51 - 7 - 125 16.3 0.1 21.4 - 27.3 - 23.9
100 - 499 lbs 2,820 3.3 457 0.4 100 0.3 226 12.8 0.5 22.2 0.1 21.0 0.1 19.0
500 - 749 lbs 1,135 1.3 283 0.2 51 0.2 181 10.9 0.1 28.9 - 13.6 - 17.6
750 - 999 lbs 1,132 1.3 289 0.2 45 0.2 154 16.7 0.3 28.9 0.1 13.7 - 31.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 15,653 18.3 6,143 4.9 1,307 4.5 194 13.4 1.3 35.4 0.8 14.3 0.5 20.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 39,243 45.8 40,689 32.2 9,812 33.8 243 4.8 2.9 8.7 3.1 8.3 3.8 12.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 13,399 15.7 54,201 42.9 5,589 19.2 104 20.7 2.1 21.2 4.4 14.5 2.8 11.0
More than 100,000 lbs 10,031 11.7 24,096 19.1 12,128 41.7 515 32.5 2.6 26.4 4.0 33.3 5.7 9.8

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 68,000 100 103,913 100 16,487 100 189 6.5 - 14.1 - 7.4 - 15.4
Less than 50 lbs 1,520 2.2 60 0.1 S S 192 19.3 0.5 21.1 - S S 22.9
50 - 99 lbs 551 0.8 51 - 7 - 123 16.4 0.1 21.5 - 27.7 - 23.0
100 - 499 lbs 2,675 3.9 457 0.4 99 0.6 225 13.5 0.7 22.3 0.2 21.2 0.1 19.1
500 - 749 lbs 1,096 1.6 283 0.3 50 0.3 178 12.5 0.2 29.0 0.1 14.1 0.1 17.7
750 - 999 lbs 979 1.4 287 0.3 44 0.3 150 21.3 0.3 29.0 0.1 13.7 - 31.8
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 13,351 19.6 6,133 5.9 1,294 7.8 191 15.7 1.7 35.5 1.0 14.4 1.2 19.7
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 35,760 52.6 40,023 38.5 9,265 56.2 235 4.7 2.2 8.7 3.7 7.7 2.5 12.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 11,627 17.1 53,345 51.3 5,353 32.5 101 15.2 1.9 21.6 4.0 14.7 2.9 10.5
More than 100,000 lbs 441 0.6 S S 366 2.2 S 44.0 0.3 S S 22.0 0.5 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 43,508 100 68,202 100 13,002 100 369 5.9 - 19.1 - 7.6 - 14.9
Less than 50 lbs 200 0.5 11 - 4 - 384 26.7 0.1 38.4 - 49.2 - 25.3
50 - 99 lbs 63 0.1 9 - 4 - 488 18.3 - 43.3 - 42.9 - 13.4
100 - 499 lbs 1,098 2.5 111 0.2 67 0.5 619 19.8 0.4 13.5 0.1 16.1 0.1 10.9
500 - 749 lbs 465 1.1 81 0.1 39 0.3 487 11.4 0.2 28.1 0.1 16.1 0.1 19.6
750 - 999 lbs 432 1.0 49 0.1 30 0.2 610 46.1 0.3 20.8 - 19.4 - 18.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 6,933 15.9 2,175 3.2 1,025 7.9 461 8.5 2.0 31.6 0.6 16.9 1.7 21.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 25,224 58.0 22,568 33.1 7,326 56.3 357 7.8 3.8 9.9 4.1 7.9 3.4 12.1
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 8,807 20.2 42,770 62.7 4,364 33.6 102 21.5 3.6 27.6 4.2 18.9 4.1 13.1
More than 100,000 lbs 286 0.7 429 0.6 143 1.1 341 31.5 0.2 40.4 0.3 29.3 0.4 40.0

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 24,492 100 35,710 100 3,484 100 108 15.0 - 10.0 - 12.9 - 21.5
Less than 50 lbs 1,319 5.4 50 0.1 S S 137 23.6 1.8 18.9 - S S 26.3
50 - 99 lbs 488 2.0 42 0.1 3 0.1 59 18.0 0.3 23.1 - 18.4 - 20.1
100 - 499 lbs 1,577 6.4 346 1.0 32 0.9 118 19.4 1.3 26.7 0.3 43.1 0.2 17.8
500 - 749 lbs 631 2.6 202 0.6 11 0.3 54 15.5 0.2 29.6 0.1 21.4 0.1 14.2
750 - 999 lbs 547 2.2 238 0.7 14 0.4 57 23.7 0.5 32.3 0.2 21.7 0.1 21.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 6,419 26.2 3,958 11.1 268 7.7 65 27.3 3.2 37.9 2.7 23.7 1.4 15.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 10,535 43.0 17,454 48.9 1,939 55.6 101 19.5 3.9 13.8 4.5 20.1 5.6 24.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 2,821 11.5 10,575 29.6 989 28.4 97 16.3 2.2 11.3 4.8 12.2 5.5 14.9
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S 223 6.4 S S S S S 35.5 1.9 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 3,786 100 17,905 100 12,410 100 617 28.9 - 28.7 - 34.4 - 11.1
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
100 - 499 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
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 1,015 S S S S S S 19.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 812 S S S S S S 33.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S 226 1.8 263 S S S S 45.6 1.2 41.0
More than 100,000 lbs 3,435 90.7 16,427 91.7 11,671 94.0 641 29.3 3.8 30.3 3.7 34.3 2.0 5.7

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 11,160 100 S S S S 1,244 37.3 - S S S S 7.2
Less than 50 lbs 107 1.0 - 0.6 1 0.8 1,244 43.1 12.9 41.8 8.7 37.6 7.6 7.9
50 - 99 lbs S S - 0.1 - 0.1 852 S S 38.3 1.1 35.2 1.0 22.4
100 - 499 lbs S S 1 0.8 1 0.8 993 S S 26.3 2.4 26.2 2.3 8.1
500 - 749 lbs S S - 0.3 S S S S S 42.5 18.4 S S S
750 - 999 lbs S S 1 1.3 1 1.4 1,195 S S 35.6 11.6 37.8 11.7 15.9
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 2,279 20.4 6 7.8 9 12.0 1,904 40.3 8.7 37.3 14.5 46.3 16.3 16.1
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 3,277 29.4 S S S S 954 29.1 10.8 S S S S 19.5
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 1,654 14.8 9 12.5 10 13.1 1,092 23.8 16.2 12.8 6.2 11.8 6.0 22.5
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

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 2,646 100 4,381 100 S S S 29.2 - 20.7 - 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs 2,646 100.0 4,381 100.0 S S S 29.2 - 20.7 - 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 9,066 100 2,895 100 2,016 100 755 14.4 - 28.1 - 17.8 - 10.0
Less than 50 lbs 4,645 51.2 132 4.6 79 3.9 765 15.2 4.1 43.9 2.0 31.0 2.5 10.1
50 - 99 lbs 772 8.5 S S 23 1.2 536 28.4 2.0 S S 43.0 0.3 16.4
100 - 499 lbs 1,329 14.7 74 2.5 44 2.2 601 32.0 2.9 42.4 0.6 30.8 0.6 15.2
500 - 749 lbs S S 6 0.2 6 0.3 1,024 S S 29.1 0.1 33.3 0.1 15.1
750 - 999 lbs 12 0.1 S S S S 1,131 45.7 0.1 S S S S 20.9
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 88 1.0 13 0.4 29 1.4 S 47.2 1.5 47.7 0.5 39.9 2.0 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 1,420 15.7 483 16.7 614 30.5 1,297 17.2 3.3 28.1 5.4 25.3 7.0 8.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 26 0.3 147 5.1 94 4.6 621 47.0 0.3 49.1 9.3 46.2 9.2 27.2
More than 100,000 lbs 680 7.5 1,991 68.8 1,124 55.7 615 30.7 1.6 36.9 7.7 26.5 8.1 12.1

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 6,849 100 261 100 155 100 754 15.9 - 44.1 - 28.7 - 10.1
Less than 50 lbs 4,645 67.8 132 50.7 79 50.8 765 15.2 5.5 43.9 5.3 31.0 5.3 10.1
50 - 99 lbs 772 11.3 S S 23 15.0 536 28.4 2.3 S S 43.0 2.2 16.4
100 - 499 lbs 1,328 19.4 74 28.2 44 28.7 600 32.0 4.2 42.4 4.5 30.8 4.2 15.2
500 - 749 lbs S S 5 2.1 5 3.5 1,029 S S 30.3 1.4 38.0 2.7 16.0
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S 1,078 S S S S S S 19.7
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 2,069 100 2,624 100 1,837 100 1,024 20.3 - 27.3 - 19.2 - 9.9
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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S 1,715 S S S S S S 11.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 81 3.9 11 0.4 18 1.0 1,547 40.9 17.1 45.0 0.9 43.3 2.6 4.6
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 1,280 61.9 474 18.1 600 32.7 1,284 22.3 10.8 29.1 5.7 26.5 7.6 8.4
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 26 1.3 147 5.6 94 5.1 621 47.0 1.0 49.1 9.4 46.2 9.7 27.2
More than 100,000 lbs 680 32.8 1,991 75.9 1,124 61.2 615 30.7 9.2 36.9 8.8 26.5 9.3 12.1

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 S S S S 23 100 3,526 S S S S 36.2 - 39.9
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs S S S S - 0.3 1,280 S S S S 17.6 12.9 10.6
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 7,777 S S S S S S 11.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,824 S S S S S S 5.3
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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 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 1,887 100 876 100 163 100 S 38.5 - 46.1 - 33.2 - S
Less than 50 lbs S S 13 1.5 - 0.2 S S S 48.4 3.0 47.6 0.5 S
50 - 99 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
100 - 499 lbs 241 12.8 S S 2 1.3 S 47.3 4.0 S S 49.7 2.3 S
500 - 749 lbs 66 3.5 S S S S S 43.3 2.5 S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs S S S S - 0.1 S S S S S 32.7 0.4 S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 1,001 53.0 S S 103 63.1 S 35.4 8.2 S S 38.3 10.6 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S 130 14.8 S S 362 S S 40.1 9.6 S S 33.8
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 30 1.6 S S S S S 29.8 8.1 S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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.