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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 35,191 100 94,149 100 23,565 100 298 10.2 - 15.5 - 10.6 - 12.6
Single modes 33,058 93.9 87,961 93.4 20,289 86.1 177 11.1 1 17.1 2.2 12.9 3.3 11.8
Truck6 27,345 77.7 70,557 74.9 12,022 51 166 8.4 3 14.5 2.3 11 2.6 11.9
For-hire truck 13,863 39.4 28,702 30.5 7,306 31 403 8.1 5.8 15.2 5.3 7.9 3 10.8
Private truck 13,482 38.3 41,855 44.5 4,716 20 79 22.1 5.3 20.4 4.7 26.1 3.5 11.9
Rail 2,872 8.2 13,122 13.9 8,173 34.7 623 29.5 2 26.2 1.8 18.5 3.3 12.6
Air (incl truck and air) 55 0.2 1 - 2 - 1,570 34.7 0.1 31.1 - 33.1 - 11.3
Pipeline7 2,787 7.9 4,281 4.5 S S S 45.7 3.5 49.6 2.2 S S S
Multiple modes 1,795 5.1 5,544 5.9 3,190 13.5 819 12.1 1 24.7 1.9 25.4 3.2 7.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,218 3.5 30 - 25 0.1 820 19.9 0.9 21.4 - 15.6 - 7.7
Truck and rail 510 1.4 5,486 5.8 3,127 13.3 749 26.8 0.3 25 1.9 26 3.2 18.3
Truck and water S S S S S S 2,097 S S S S S S 34.5
Other and unknown modes 337 1 644 0.7 86 0.4 S 21.1 0.3 48.3 0.5 49.4 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 4,766 100 10,391 100 2,422 100 142 23.1 - 23.6 - 20.2 - 25.1
Single modes 4,573 96 10,261 98.7 2,310 95.4 142 21.5 1.4 24.1 2.6 20.1 3 24.3
Truck6 4,304 90.3 9,219 88.7 1,616 66.7 139 23.6 3.5 26.5 4.3 25.2 9.6 25.2
For-hire truck 2,200 46.2 5,065 48.7 896 37 245 12.4 8.1 23.3 6.8 19.1 9.6 18.7
Private truck 2,104 44.2 4,154 40 719 29.7 93 45.1 8.7 36.5 8.6 43.4 8.3 25.4
Rail 269 5.6 1,042 10 695 28.7 718 28.6 9.3 28.3 8.8 21.9 17.3 22.6
Multiple modes S S 61 0.6 89 3.7 942 S S 30.9 1.8 36.8 7.7 45.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
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 S S S S S S S S S 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 871 100 1,141 100 330 100 S 19.8 - 37.2 - 36.1 - S
Single modes 715 82 710 62.2 259 78.5 S 14.3 4.7 29.6 10.4 34.8 6.4 S
Truck6 697 80 648 56.7 195 59 S 13.5 4.9 26.7 11 28.3 9.2 S
For-hire truck 354 40.6 372 32.6 176 53.4 314 20.6 10.5 36 12.3 31.3 9.3 18.6
Private truck 343 39.3 275 24.1 18 5.6 55 14.5 11 16 17.3 21.1 19 24.2
Rail 18 2 63 5.5 S S 899 42.1 2.5 39.1 2.9 S S 24.2
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 766 S S S S S S 29.1
Multiple modes 44 5.1 S S 68 20.5 994 28.8 2.8 S S 44 8.7 21.9
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 925 S S S S S S 28.9
Truck and rail 44 5 S S 67 20.4 1,418 22.7 3.3 S S 40.5 9.7 14.9
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 15 S S S S S S 22.4

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 629 100 42,240 100 7,474 100 129 24.2 - 16.8 - 23 - 27.4
Single modes 587 93.2 37,496 88.8 5,438 72.8 123 24.6 2.2 19.6 3.7 22.6 6.1 27.2
Truck6 541 85.9 31,574 74.7 3,578 47.9 116 25.3 2.6 15.6 4.7 17.8 8 29.1
For-hire truck 382 60.7 12,670 30 2,094 28 177 29.7 6.7 29.4 8.5 27.5 9.2 41.2
Private truck 159 25.2 18,903 44.8 1,484 19.8 76 19.4 5.1 16.3 7.3 17.5 6.6 12.6
Rail 46 7.3 5,923 14 1,860 24.9 290 36.9 2.3 48.3 3.7 43.2 6.6 30.6
Multiple modes 42 6.7 4,631 11 2,035 27.2 367 26 2.3 29.9 3.9 44.8 6.1 25.7
Truck and rail 42 6.7 4,631 11 2,035 27.2 367 26 2.3 29.9 3.9 44.8 6.1 25.7
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 10,906 100 19,892 100 4,343 100 68 34.6 - 30 - 37.2 - 18
Single modes 10,878 99.7 19,860 99.8 4,343 100 84 34.6 0.1 30 0.1 37.3 - 14.8
Truck6 6,732 61.7 13,002 65.4 1,893 43.6 73 30.7 7.9 26.7 7.2 36.5 12.3 14
For-hire truck 198 1.8 1,738 8.7 197 4.5 126 28.4 10.9 24 13.5 30.8 13.3 31.7
Private truck 6,534 59.9 11,263 56.6 1,697 39.1 71 30.2 6.8 32 8.1 40.7 9.1 17.7
Rail S S 2,577 13 2,356 54.2 705 S S 34.1 5.8 38.7 11.7 17.8
Pipeline7 2,787 25.6 4,281 21.5 S S S 45.7 8.4 49.6 8.1 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
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 20 S S S S S S 18.8

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 4,269 100 5,675 100 2,958 100 232 15.9 - 16.6 - 13.8 - 16.7
Single modes 4,125 96.6 5,445 95.9 2,679 90.6 182 16.5 1 17.8 1.8 15.9 4.1 21.9
Truck6 3,467 81.2 3,729 65.7 1,181 39.9 159 14.8 3.3 21.6 4.7 18.9 5.1 23.3
For-hire truck 2,700 63.3 2,925 51.5 1,111 37.5 483 19 5 28 5.9 20.5 4.3 12.3
Private truck 767 18 803 14.2 71 2.4 54 28.2 5.7 39 7.6 37.7 2.3 11.4
Rail 657 15.4 1,717 30.2 1,497 50.6 918 39.1 3.3 19.1 4.2 20.4 4.9 9.6
Air (incl truck and air) - - S S S S 1,434 43.3 - S S S S 12.9
Multiple modes 135 3.2 225 4 278 9.4 662 22.1 1 36.6 1.8 42.7 4.1 17.9
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 35 0.8 S S S S 632 39.3 0.3 S S S S 17.5
Truck and rail 91 2.1 221 3.9 273 9.2 1,231 31.2 1.6 31.4 2.5 39.1 5.6 12.1
Truck and water 10 0.2 1 - S S 2,243 48.2 0.9 11.7 0.1 S S 41.2
Other and unknown modes 8 0.2 5 0.1 1 - S 44.1 0.3 48 0.2 37.4 0.1 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 2,430 100 4,154 100 3,057 100 649 15.5 - 29.4 - 31.6 - 10.6
Single modes 2,075 85.4 3,664 88.2 2,451 80.2 511 15.5 2.2 29 1.5 32.4 3.2 12.8
Truck6 1,641 67.5 2,392 57.6 1,299 42.5 480 10.6 6.9 21 9.1 20.7 10.2 13.3
For-hire truck 1,415 58.2 2,146 51.7 1,238 40.5 613 13 7.1 21.6 8.5 21.2 10.1 8.3
Private truck 226 9.3 246 5.9 61 2 S 33.6 4 29.3 3.4 40.5 1.5 S
Rail 434 17.9 1,272 30.6 1,153 37.7 943 48.9 9.8 37.7 9.9 39.1 11.6 27
Multiple modes 337 13.9 461 11.1 563 18.4 744 21.5 1.7 36.5 1.9 33.9 3.6 16.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 171 7 6 0.2 4 0.1 722 27.1 2 29.9 0.1 29.5 0.2 17.8
Truck and rail 166 6.8 454 10.9 559 18.3 1,396 31.1 1.4 33.5 1.4 30.2 3 7.5
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 968 S S S S S S 36

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 5,226 100 8,589 100 2,343 100 451 8.5 - 21.1 - 29.8 - 9
Single modes 4,805 91.9 8,478 98.7 2,191 93.5 287 10.5 3.5 21.2 0.5 28 1.9 10.4
Truck6 4,700 89.9 7,949 92.5 1,642 70.1 269 10.8 3.6 21.2 2.1 24.6 6.3 10.4
For-hire truck 3,614 69.2 2,939 34.2 1,287 54.9 530 14.4 6.4 27.6 6.9 29.3 6.4 9.5
Private truck 1,086 20.8 5,010 58.3 355 15.2 76 22 4.3 23.6 7.5 21.7 7.3 17.6
Rail 89 1.7 529 6.2 548 23.4 1,057 39.7 1.6 28.7 2.3 35.9 5.2 15.4
Air (incl truck and air) S S - - S S 2,127 S S 45.8 - S S 24.7
Multiple modes 390 7.5 S S S S 721 39 3.6 S S S S 18.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 315 6 6 0.1 5 0.2 717 46.5 3.5 35 0.1 29.2 0.3 16.4
Truck and rail S S S S S S 1,737 S S S S S S 23
Truck and water 49 0.9 4 - 6 0.3 2,853 40.6 1.8 43.5 0.3 31 3.4 33.7
Other and unknown modes S S S S 8 0.3 S S S S S 47.9 0.8 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 2,102 100 125 100 83 100 846 17.3 - 21 - 14.2 - 9.7
Single modes 1,488 70.8 115 92.3 74 88.9 464 27.9 8.5 23 2.7 16.8 3.2 25.4
Truck6 1,454 69.2 115 91.8 73 87.9 424 27.9 8.2 23 2.7 16.7 3.1 29.8
For-hire truck 1,230 58.5 80 64.1 56 66.5 874 31.5 8.8 25 8.7 20 8.1 5.2
Private truck S S 35 27.7 S S S S S 47.8 10.3 S S S
Air (incl truck and air) 34 1.6 1 0.5 1 1 1,343 42.2 0.8 46.5 0.3 42.6 0.5 13.4
Multiple modes 541 25.7 7 5.6 6 7.3 1,008 27.3 8.6 14.9 2.3 13.9 2.8 5.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 541 25.7 7 5.6 6 7.3 1,008 27.3 8.6 14.9 2.3 13.9 2.8 5.7
Other and unknown modes 74 3.5 3 2.1 3 3.8 S 35.4 3 17.8 2 35.3 3.1 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 3,989 100 1,930 100 552 100 389 17.3 - 29.9 - 23.4 - 24.2
Single modes 3,812 95.5 1,920 99.5 543 98.3 218 17.7 4.6 30.1 0.3 23.5 0.6 33
Truck6 3,806 95.4 1,920 99.5 542 98.2 217 17.7 4.6 30.1 0.3 23.5 0.7 33.5
For-hire truck 1,769 44.3 755 39.1 249 45.1 460 20.8 7.1 47.8 8.7 33 8.9 13.2
Private truck 2,037 51.1 1,164 60.3 293 53.1 141 19.9 7.4 25.8 8.7 32.2 8.8 45.6
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 821 S S S S S S 29.2
Multiple modes 154 3.9 7 0.4 6 1.1 843 40.2 4.7 30.7 0.2 31.1 0.5 7.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 154 3.9 7 0.4 6 1 842 40.3 4.7 30.8 0.2 32 0.5 7.5
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 23 0.6 3 0.2 4 0.7 1,000 48.1 0.5 41.8 0.4 45.9 1 23.5

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 S S S S S S S S
Truck6 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
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 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.