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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 96,545 100 130,040 100 31,230 100 502 8.8 - 13 - 15.1 - 13.8
Single modes 85,592 88.7 126,269 97.1 29,050 93 197 9.2 1.6 13.3 0.6 15.6 1.2 14.3
Truck6 68,000 70.4 103,913 79.9 16,487 52.8 189 6.5 3.4 14.1 3.2 7.4 5.3 15.4
For-hire truck 43,508 45.1 68,202 52.4 13,002 41.6 369 5.9 3.7 19.1 4.7 7.6 4.9 14.9
Private truck 24,492 25.4 35,710 27.5 3,484 11.2 108 15 2 10 2.2 12.9 0.9 21.5
Rail 3,786 3.9 17,905 13.8 12,410 39.7 617 28.9 1.1 28.7 3.3 34.4 6 11.1
Air (incl truck and air) 11,160 11.6 S S S S 1,244 37.3 3.3 S S S S 7.2
Pipeline7 2,646 2.7 4,381 3.4 S S S 29.2 2.1 20.7 2.2 S S S
Multiple modes 9,066 9.4 2,895 2.2 2,016 6.5 755 14.4 1.4 28.1 0.5 17.8 1.2 10
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 6,849 7.1 261 0.2 155 0.5 754 15.9 1.1 44.1 0.1 28.7 0.1 10.1
Truck and rail 2,069 2.1 2,624 2 1,837 5.9 1,024 20.3 0.5 27.3 0.5 19.2 1.2 9.9
Truck and water S S S S 23 0.1 3,526 S S S S 36.2 - 39.9
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 1,887 2 876 0.7 163 0.5 S 38.5 0.7 46.1 0.5 33.2 0.2 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 22,122 100 56,976 100 16,303 100 235 6 - 23 - 25.6 - 16.3
Single modes 21,154 95.6 55,478 97.4 15,397 94.4 218 6.1 1.5 23.2 0.7 26.3 2.3 14.8
Truck6 18,538 83.8 42,714 75 6,543 40.1 204 7.5 4.3 27.9 7.7 13.9 8.9 16.8
For-hire truck 16,246 73.4 35,048 61.5 5,880 36.1 239 9.4 4.8 32.6 6 14.8 7.9 20.2
Private truck 2,292 10.4 7,666 13.5 663 4.1 116 19.9 2.3 24.5 4.2 25.5 1.4 10.5
Rail 2,616 11.8 12,764 22.4 8,854 54.3 557 40.1 4.5 37.1 7.8 45.5 9.3 30
Multiple modes 900 4.1 1,219 2.1 869 5.3 1,015 34.1 1.8 46.7 0.8 25.9 2.7 19.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 1,011 S S S S S S 18.6
Truck and rail 894 4 1,218 2.1 868 5.3 1,021 31.7 2 44.9 0.9 21.9 3 21.6
Other and unknown modes 67 0.3 S S S S S 42.5 0.2 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 5,390 100 6,119 100 2,666 100 315 17.7 - 20.9 - 27.4 - 21.2
Single modes 5,133 95.2 5,697 93.1 2,423 90.9 326 18.1 1.5 20.1 1.8 26 2.6 22.6
Truck6 4,709 87.4 4,397 71.9 1,261 47.3 325 19.2 4.1 20.6 6.8 20.5 11 23.3
For-hire truck 1,592 29.5 2,168 35.4 910 34.2 540 29 6.3 26.8 9.3 22.6 10.5 10.2
Private truck 3,117 57.8 2,229 36.4 351 13.2 242 23.8 5.7 25.7 6.6 40.3 4.7 24.7
Rail 424 7.9 1,300 21.2 1,162 43.6 739 29.5 4 31 5.9 40.8 10 12.2
Multiple modes 250 4.6 416 6.8 240 9 531 28.3 1.7 35.5 1.9 45.5 2.9 21.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 522 S S S S S S 24.1
Truck and rail 235 4.4 416 6.8 240 9 687 29.7 2 32.9 2 43.8 3.1 32
Other and unknown modes S S 6 0.1 S S S S S 13.4 0.3 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 395 100 19,491 100 3,028 100 127 41.1 - 21.1 - 32 - 25.2
Single modes 379 96 18,981 97.4 2,727 90.1 123 40 0.9 21 0.9 29.3 2.6 25.9
Truck6 352 89.2 17,659 90.6 2,110 69.7 112 41.3 3.1 20.6 2.2 32.1 8.5 30.3
For-hire truck 172 43.5 10,018 51.4 1,267 41.8 123 48.9 8.7 23.8 10.7 34.6 12.8 31.2
Private truck 180 45.7 7,641 39.2 844 27.9 S 36.3 7.6 37.1 10 40 7.8 S
Rail 27 6.8 1,321 6.8 617 20.4 481 21.2 4.1 17.2 1.8 17.5 8.8 11.4
Multiple modes S S 505 2.6 S S 682 S S 39.3 1.4 S S 24.1
Truck and rail S S 505 2.6 S S 682 S S 39.3 1.4 S S 24.1
Other and unknown modes S S 6 - - - 21 S S 46.7 0.1 47.1 - 21.4

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 17,037 100 25,221 100 1,990 100 206 19 - 20.4 - 21.8 - 38.7
Single modes 16,018 94 24,623 97.6 1,825 91.7 S 22 6.9 21.4 3.6 24.3 7.9 S
Truck6 13,307 78.1 20,814 82.5 1,650 82.9 S 21.2 6.8 21 4.8 24.5 8.2 S
For-hire truck 8,603 50.5 14,522 57.6 1,324 66.5 S 30.8 10.6 29.7 11.3 28.5 11.2 S
Private truck 4,704 27.6 6,292 24.9 325 16.3 70 29.9 7.5 29.1 9.8 35.8 5.9 27.3
Rail 67 0.4 S S 111 5.6 867 31.7 2.1 S S 32.3 11.5 29.9
Pipeline7 2,644 15.5 3,588 14.2 S S S 15.8 10.1 25.5 9.9 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 28 0.2 S S S S 696 41.8 0.3 S S S S 3.5
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 49 S S S S S S 26.3

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 9,164 100 6,977 100 2,562 100 305 17.5 - 19.2 - 26.1 - 24.6
Single modes 8,859 96.7 6,899 98.9 2,496 97.4 166 17.9 1.1 19.4 0.6 25.9 0.8 21.6
Truck6 8,479 92.5 5,002 71.7 1,558 60.8 154 18.5 2 25.3 8.7 29.7 8.3 23.3
For-hire truck 4,898 53.5 2,197 31.5 1,195 46.6 476 23.3 6.6 24.2 6.7 31.5 8.3 17.2
Private truck 3,581 39.1 2,805 40.2 363 14.2 62 34.2 7.2 42.7 8.3 42.7 6.4 18
Rail 374 4.1 1,102 15.8 921 36 780 32.3 2.1 32.4 6.8 31.3 8.5 15.3
Air (incl truck and air) 3 - S S S S 1,212 46.9 - S S S S 19.1
Pipeline7 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 280 3.1 S S 56 2.2 717 26.9 1 S S 49.4 0.8 15.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 223 2.4 13 0.2 7 0.3 716 33 1 28.1 0.1 31.8 0.2 15.6
Truck and rail 56 0.6 S S S S 1,407 35.6 0.4 S S S S 21.6
Truck and water S S S S S S 6,661 S S S S S S 39.7
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 4,971 100 1,468 100 546 100 816 12.2 - 14.7 - 17.5 - 11.7
Single modes 3,282 66 1,328 90.5 410 75.1 104 17.1 5.4 15.6 2.4 13.5 5.5 23.6
Truck6 3,278 66 1,328 90.5 409 75 98 17.1 5.4 15.6 2.4 13.5 5.5 25.3
For-hire truck 2,447 49.2 693 47.2 345 63.2 S 23.4 7.3 18.5 6.2 17 5.8 S
Private truck 831 16.7 635 43.3 64 11.8 60 15 3.6 22 6.8 17.9 3.6 14.6
Air (incl truck and air) 3 0.1 - - S S S 40 - 37 - S S S
Multiple modes 1,640 33 110 7.5 131 24.1 913 19.3 5.3 36.7 2.4 47.6 5.5 5.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,058 21.3 57 3.9 50 9.3 913 33.8 7.6 33.8 1.9 34 5 3.4
Truck and rail 582 11.7 S S S S 1,572 31.5 3.8 S S S S 2.8
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 49 1 29 2 S S S 29.3 0.7 33.6 0.8 S S 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 10,837 100 9,514 100 2,584 100 488 8.3 - 15.3 - 12.4 - 13.1
Single modes 8,972 82.8 9,269 97.4 2,401 92.9 411 7.4 2.3 16.1 1.4 13.7 2.8 11.4
Truck6 8,644 79.8 8,315 87.4 1,797 69.6 395 8.1 2.8 16.2 2 12.4 3 12.3
For-hire truck 5,549 51.2 2,518 26.5 1,299 50.3 811 13.1 4.7 16.9 4.6 12.1 4 6.1
Private truck 3,095 28.6 5,797 60.9 498 19.3 113 14.1 4.1 20.6 5.5 24.3 3.4 17.1
Rail 114 1.1 948 10 598 23.2 733 19.6 0.3 22.7 2.3 23.9 4.8 21.2
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 1,225 S S S S S S 11.3
Multiple modes 1,577 14.5 203 2.1 172 6.6 617 21.5 2.3 40.6 1.4 46.5 2.6 15.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,439 13.3 24 0.3 17 0.6 614 21.9 2.2 19.2 0.1 19.2 0.3 15.2
Truck and rail 129 1.2 178 1.9 S S 1,135 44.2 0.5 44.2 1.5 S S 16.9
Truck and water 8 0.1 1 - S S 4,681 45 0.1 46.1 - S S 31.6
Other and unknown modes 288 2.7 42 0.4 11 0.4 96 38.3 1.2 29.6 0.1 45.3 0.3 41.2

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 20,287 100 1,324 100 815 100 549 25.4 - 18.7 - 15.4 - 14.8
Single modes 16,740 82.5 1,161 87.7 708 86.9 223 26.4 4.1 16.8 2.8 15.8 3.1 33.5
Truck6 5,752 28.4 1,067 80.6 609 74.8 186 11.4 9.6 17.2 6.1 17.4 7.8 36.7
For-hire truck 2,714 13.4 579 43.7 493 60.5 735 14.6 7.2 20.4 6.1 21.7 6.9 13.1
Private truck 3,039 15 488 36.9 117 14.3 64 16.4 3.6 29.1 7.7 25.5 5.9 16.7
Rail 54 0.3 S S S S 1,166 47.3 2 S S S S 26.9
Air (incl truck and air) 10,934 53.9 S S S S 1,411 38.4 11.7 S S S S 8.9
Multiple modes 2,766 13.6 59 4.4 52 6.3 727 28.4 3.8 29.3 0.8 28.1 1.1 16
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 2,552 12.6 29 2.2 20 2.4 727 27 4 24.9 0.4 22.3 0.6 16
Truck and rail 80 0.4 23 1.7 21 2.6 886 41.4 1.8 7.9 2.2 2.7 2.7 9.3
Truck and water S S S S S S 1,823 S S S S S S 6.4
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S S S S S 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 6,334 100 2,894 100 734 100 495 20.5 - 31 - 22.9 - 26.8
Single modes 5,047 79.7 2,776 95.9 660 89.9 S 24.1 7.4 32 2.9 24.1 4 S
Truck6 4,931 77.9 2,560 88.4 547 74.4 118 24 7 33.6 4.8 25.8 5.8 47.8
For-hire truck 1,285 20.3 450 15.5 288 39.3 737 15.6 6.4 16.5 10.2 22.3 6.5 6.8
Private truck 3,646 57.6 2,110 72.9 258 35.2 66 29.2 9.3 39.6 11.9 37.1 6.7 28.4
Rail 111 1.7 215 7.4 111 15.2 935 25.8 3.3 10.3 13.1 5.1 15.9 24.2
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 1,038 S S S S S S 31.4
Multiple modes 890 14 S S S S 829 32.3 5.9 S S S S 14.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 836 13.2 22 0.8 18 2.4 829 34.7 6 26.1 1.4 31.1 2 14.2
Truck and rail 50 0.8 S S S S 1,104 45.8 0.9 S S S S 18.8
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 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 22 S S S S S S 20.1
Truck6 S S S S S S 22 S S S S S S 20.1
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 20 S S S S S S 15.1
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 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.