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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 30,337 100 22,762 100 5,281 100 832 13.9 - 12.9 - 12.6 - 10.9
Less than 50 lbs 4,169 13.7 91 0.4 86 1.6 1,027 14.4 3.2 14.8 0.1 32.1 0.3 9.8
50 - 99 lbs 1,400 4.6 67 0.3 34 0.7 505 14.2 1.3 15.5 0.1 15.3 0.2 14.8
100 - 499 lbs 4,009 13.2 340 1.5 162 3.1 471 18.0 1.9 12.7 0.3 21.8 0.6 14.3
500 - 749 lbs 1,482 4.9 123 0.5 55 1.0 442 29.2 0.8 13.3 0.2 19.4 0.3 16.0
750 - 999 lbs 924 3.0 118 0.5 52 1.0 440 29.0 0.9 15.3 0.2 15.6 0.3 8.7
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 7,870 25.9 1,585 7.0 452 8.5 298 36.3 4.9 8.6 1.4 11.6 1.4 8.1
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 7,980 26.3 9,393 41.3 2,272 43.0 254 27.7 3.8 13.9 3.0 8.2 5.4 15.5
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 2,256 7.4 7,762 34.1 965 18.3 129 21.8 1.6 16.9 2.9 19.2 2.3 16.2
More than 100,000 lbs 247 0.8 3,283 14.4 1,203 22.8 462 47.5 0.4 26.2 2.4 35.9 5.7 27.0

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 23,210 100 20,420 100 4,562 100 380 17.8 - 11.3 - 11.6 - 10.0
Less than 50 lbs 737 3.2 20 0.1 9 0.2 573 11.5 1.0 11.6 - 22.2 0.1 17.1
50 - 99 lbs 351 1.5 26 0.1 6 0.1 202 18.4 0.7 12.3 - 24.2 - 21.5
100 - 499 lbs 2,306 9.9 244 1.2 72 1.6 281 6.8 2.1 13.7 0.2 12.2 0.4 12.2
500 - 749 lbs 1,208 5.2 119 0.6 49 1.1 401 29.8 0.9 12.9 0.2 20.5 0.2 18.8
750 - 999 lbs 898 3.9 116 0.6 48 1.1 416 29.9 1.3 15.9 0.2 17.3 0.3 8.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 7,633 32.9 1,508 7.4 421 9.2 299 36.4 5.6 7.8 1.3 13.1 1.5 7.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 7,620 32.8 8,689 42.5 2,093 45.9 242 29.1 3.8 12.8 3.1 7.4 5.2 12.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 2,240 9.7 6,821 33.4 957 21.0 145 22.0 2.0 16.5 3.5 19.6 2.5 12.8
More than 100,000 lbs S S 2,878 14.1 907 19.9 412 S S 29.1 2.8 35.9 5.1 22.4

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 22,721 100 19,536 100 3,854 100 288 18.5 - 11.8 - 10.1 - 10.7
Less than 50 lbs 495 2.2 17 0.1 4 0.1 326 10.8 0.7 11.2 - 33.9 - 21.7
50 - 99 lbs 294 1.3 26 0.1 5 0.1 180 18.6 0.6 12.1 - 24.9 - 21.6
100 - 499 lbs 2,211 9.7 243 1.2 70 1.8 272 7.4 2.0 13.8 0.2 12.7 0.3 12.2
500 - 749 lbs 1,206 5.3 119 0.6 48 1.3 400 29.8 0.9 12.8 0.2 20.6 0.2 18.8
750 - 999 lbs 886 3.9 115 0.6 47 1.2 402 30.5 1.3 15.9 0.2 16.7 0.3 8.3
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 7,606 33.5 1,503 7.7 411 10.7 295 36.4 5.6 7.8 1.3 12.6 1.6 7.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 7,612 33.5 8,688 44.5 2,093 54.3 242 29.1 3.7 12.8 3.2 7.4 3.7 12.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 2,240 9.9 6,815 34.9 953 24.7 145 22.0 2.0 16.5 3.5 19.5 3.2 12.9
More than 100,000 lbs S S 2,011 10.3 S S 150 S S 39.1 3.2 S S 36.9

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 16,464 100 8,802 100 2,929 100 682 24.2 - 19.5 - 10.1 - 11.0
Less than 50 lbs 195 1.2 5 0.1 4 0.1 851 29.4 1.0 28.5 - 32.9 - 16.0
50 - 99 lbs 145 0.9 5 0.1 4 0.1 701 31.4 0.9 18.6 - 28.0 - 20.3
100 - 499 lbs 1,346 8.2 91 1.0 56 1.9 620 14.0 2.0 19.5 0.2 11.9 0.3 14.0
500 - 749 lbs 828 5.0 57 0.6 44 1.5 777 42.9 1.0 17.3 0.2 23.4 0.4 13.3
750 - 999 lbs 760 4.6 57 0.6 43 1.5 753 33.9 1.9 24.1 0.2 17.9 0.3 12.3
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 6,012 36.5 517 5.9 310 10.6 601 46.1 7.1 9.5 1.4 12.3 2.2 10.4
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 5,456 33.1 3,042 34.6 1,585 54.1 549 40.6 5.1 16.9 2.8 9.2 3.8 12.5
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 1,700 10.3 4,029 45.8 745 25.4 192 24.2 3.1 13.6 3.5 19.7 3.0 22.6
More than 100,000 lbs 21 0.1 S S S S S 45.6 0.6 S S S S S

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 6,257 100 10,734 100 925 100 68 11.7 - 14.8 - 19.9 - 7.9
Less than 50 lbs 300 4.8 12 0.1 1 0.1 51 15.3 0.9 11.6 - 18.5 - 13.9
50 - 99 lbs 148 2.4 21 0.2 1 0.1 53 14.3 0.4 15.0 - 22.2 - 13.9
100 - 499 lbs 865 13.8 152 1.4 14 1.5 80 12.0 2.2 16.2 0.4 37.0 1.1 12.9
500 - 749 lbs 378 6.0 62 0.6 4 0.4 64 36.8 1.3 17.2 0.2 23.4 0.2 13.1
750 - 999 lbs 126 2.0 58 0.5 4 0.4 61 13.2 0.2 12.7 0.1 19.1 0.1 24.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 1,594 25.5 986 9.2 100 10.8 84 14.1 1.9 8.5 1.9 21.0 2.5 12.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 2,156 34.5 5,646 52.6 508 54.9 95 16.0 3.3 15.8 6.1 22.5 6.4 24.7
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 540 8.6 2,786 26.0 208 22.5 S 29.1 2.5 30.3 5.6 30.5 6.1 S
More than 100,000 lbs S S 1,012 9.4 86 9.2 S S S 30.3 2.1 48.9 2.9 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 45 100 874 100 688 100 829 33.1 - 29.8 - 29.9 - 23.4
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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 45 99.8 867 99.3 684 99.5 836 33.1 0.1 30.0 0.7 30.2 0.7 23.2

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 443 100 11 100 19 100 1,693 24.8 - 37.1 - 47.6 - 6.5
Less than 50 lbs 241 54.4 3 24.8 4 22.9 1,712 33.9 8.6 38.7 10.7 43.3 11.0 7.5
50 - 99 lbs S S 1 5.3 S S 1,208 S S 45.7 2.3 S S 16.7
100 - 499 lbs S S 1 10.9 2 9.6 1,571 S S 30.1 6.3 27.5 9.2 11.1
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 2,552 S S S S S S 6.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,438 S S S S S S 33.0
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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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 6,413 100 392 100 670 100 1,159 21.1 - 20.6 - 28.0 - 9.5
Less than 50 lbs 3,366 52.5 69 17.6 77 11.5 1,190 17.6 4.0 19.7 3.0 36.2 2.8 9.4
50 - 99 lbs 997 15.6 36 9.1 29 4.3 804 15.1 3.2 22.8 3.3 20.3 2.5 19.8
100 - 499 lbs 1,596 24.9 79 20.1 90 13.4 1,095 42.5 3.6 26.5 5.1 40.2 4.7 9.8
500 - 749 lbs S S 4 0.9 S S 1,794 S S 35.5 0.7 S S 17.2
750 - 999 lbs 24 0.4 2 0.6 4 0.5 1,527 34.3 0.2 34.7 0.3 39.8 0.3 22.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S 9 2.3 25 3.7 2,679 S S 42.6 2.5 43.1 6.5 3.6
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S 62 15.9 157 23.4 2,600 S S 26.0 9.3 26.6 12.6 3.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs 7 0.1 131 33.4 283 42.2 2,161 33.8 0.2 32.2 19.8 31.4 18.4 11.6

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 6,244 100 188 100 201 100 1,156 21.7 - 18.2 - 32.0 - 9.5
Less than 50 lbs 3,366 53.9 69 36.7 77 38.1 1,190 17.6 4.3 19.7 4.2 36.2 4.4 9.4
50 - 99 lbs 997 16.0 36 19.1 29 14.3 804 15.1 3.2 22.8 3.0 20.3 3.1 19.8
100 - 499 lbs 1,585 25.4 77 41.1 86 42.8 1,072 42.9 3.7 25.7 5.2 38.4 5.1 9.5
500 - 749 lbs S S 3 1.8 S S 1,773 S S 36.6 0.7 S S 17.4
750 - 999 lbs 24 0.4 2 1.3 4 1.8 1,527 34.3 0.3 34.7 0.5 39.8 1.6 22.0
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 28 100 123 100 224 100 1,373 33.1 - 36.2 - 30.3 - 21.5
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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 24 83.5 S S S S 2,339 34.3 13.3 S S S S 2.7
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs S S 85 69.4 135 60.2 1,558 S S 48.7 15.5 47.3 20.0 18.6

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 136 100 35 100 96 100 2,767 46.3 - 27.5 - 27.9 - 2.0
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 2,850 S S S S S S 15.0
500 - 749 lbs S S - 0.4 - 0.3 2,448 S S 43.7 4.4 32.6 3.8 16.1
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 2,694 S S S S S S 1.1
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S 25 70.4 68 70.5 2,754 S S 25.1 14.6 26.0 14.5 1.1
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rail 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 3 100 46 100 148 100 3,240 39.3 - 39.4 - 38.9 - 0.6
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 3 100.0 46 100.0 148 100.0 3,240 39.3 - 39.4 - 38.9 - 0.6

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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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 S S S S 49 100 S S S S S 39.6 - S
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 15 S S S S S S 16.1
100 - 499 lbs S S S S S S 34 S S S S S S 31.1
500 - 749 lbs 1 0.2 - - - - S 33.8 0.4 26.0 0.8 48.6 - S
750 - 999 lbs S S S S - 0.1 S S S S S 43.7 3.8 S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 199 27.9 S S 6 11.5 S 46.3 9.4 S S 28.2 18.0 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 15 2.1 S S S S 8 49.3 16.3 S S S S 31.8
More than 100,000 lbs 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 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.