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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 250,064 100 274,454 100 48,008 100 565 9.4 - 9.8 - 11.6 - 12
Single modes 215,660 86.2 269,970 98.4 45,003 93.7 202 10.6 1.3 9.8 0.3 12.1 1.3 10.6
Truck6 204,604 81.8 243,825 88.8 32,348 67.4 172 8.4 1.1 12.4 4.1 8.4 6.7 11.3
For-hire truck 126,938 50.8 130,188 47.4 26,126 54.4 509 14.5 2 16.3 3.6 10.1 4.9 9.4
Private truck 77,666 31.1 113,637 41.4 6,221 13 57 3.6 2.5 15.6 5.1 8.4 2.3 9.8
Rail S S 26,104 9.5 12,587 26.2 1,411 S S 43.3 4.3 43.6 7.4 22.9
Air (incl truck and air) 2,354 0.9 41 - 69 0.1 1,168 13.5 0.2 22.9 - 36 - 5.6
Multiple modes 30,146 12.1 2,222 0.8 1,521 3.2 882 9.4 1.2 28.3 0.2 13.6 0.6 8.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 28,160 11.3 697 0.3 476 1 881 10.1 1.3 10.8 - 13.1 0.2 8.2
Truck and rail S S 1,478 0.5 968 2 1,432 S S 43 0.2 20.8 0.5 13.4
Truck and water 194 0.1 47 - 72 0.1 S 44.9 - 34.6 - 47.8 0.1 S
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 4,258 1.7 2,262 0.8 S S 76 17.7 0.3 37.5 0.3 S S 30.9

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 8,631 100 8,764 100 1,658 100 161 12.3 - 21.6 - 18.3 - 16.1
Single modes 8,413 97.5 8,702 99.3 1,593 96.1 102 12.7 1.5 21.8 0.5 18 1.2 18.6
Truck6 8,389 97.2 8,676 99 1,514 91.4 101 12.8 1.7 21.9 0.9 17.6 3.4 18.3
For-hire truck 3,381 39.2 3,419 39 930 56.1 301 25.9 6.1 28.8 5.1 22.7 4.9 17.2
Private truck 5,008 58 5,257 60 584 35.2 76 10.2 6 22.3 5.7 15.7 6.5 8.4
Rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S 535 S S S S S S 13.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 533 S S S S S S 13.4
Truck and rail S S S S S S 1,163 S S S S S S 13.2
Other and unknown modes S S S S 35 2.1 S S S S S 50 1.7 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 25,408 100 21,165 100 5,922 100 123 13.5 - 9.2 - 13.2 - 15.5
Single modes 24,814 97.7 20,847 98.5 5,693 96.1 93 13 0.8 9.3 0.6 13.1 1.5 15
Truck6 24,470 96.3 20,660 97.6 5,606 94.7 89 12.8 1 9.1 0.7 12.8 1.8 16
For-hire truck 15,566 61.3 11,566 54.6 4,851 81.9 387 18.3 5.6 17 7.1 16.5 6.2 11.9
Private truck 8,904 35 9,094 43 755 12.7 46 7 6.2 16.7 7.6 21.8 6.6 11.5
Rail 333 1.3 186 0.9 S S 1,441 28.8 0.6 32.5 0.6 S S 40
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 1,438 S S S S S S 32.7
Multiple modes S S 67 0.3 105 1.8 438 S S 32.5 0.2 38.8 1.3 29.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 432 S S S S S S 22.3
Truck and rail 31 0.1 34 0.2 76 1.3 1,800 19.9 0.2 28.9 0.2 35.4 1.1 24.6
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 166 0.7 251 1.2 S S S 42.1 0.4 43.9 0.7 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 1,593 100 92,710 100 3,487 100 43 25 - 23.5 - 18 - 28
Single modes 1,472 92.4 91,677 98.9 3,254 93.3 33 22.7 2.8 23.8 1 18.7 5.7 11.1
Truck6 1,430 89.7 88,157 95.1 2,782 79.8 32 23.5 2.5 24.7 2.2 22.3 7.3 9.9
For-hire truck 797 50 34,328 37 1,510 43.3 50 31.7 7.2 26.4 7.4 22.8 4.4 10.3
Private truck 632 39.7 53,829 58.1 1,273 36.5 23 24.1 7.2 31.6 7.3 27.2 6.4 12.4
Rail 42 2.7 3,520 3.8 472 13.5 S 34.6 1.8 46.9 2 37.6 6.7 S
Multiple modes S S S S S S 917 S S S S S S 24.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 1,058 S S S S S S 28.3
Truck and rail 8 0.5 S S 177 5.1 229 12.6 1.8 S S 49.1 13.4 29.5
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 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 14,224 100 76,148 100 13,657 100 44 19.4 - 26.3 - 44.9 - 14.2
Single modes 14,113 99.2 75,803 99.5 13,593 99.5 40 19.7 0.7 26.3 0.2 45.1 2.3 15.2
Truck6 13,074 91.9 55,373 72.7 4,014 29.4 40 19.7 2.6 25.6 8.6 30.7 16.9 15.4
For-hire truck 6,017 42.3 41,391 54.4 3,499 25.6 87 26.9 6.8 34.6 8 35.4 11.3 24.8
Private truck 7,057 49.6 13,982 18.4 515 3.8 21 23.5 8.4 17.7 9.6 19.3 10.9 4.7
Rail 1,039 7.3 S S S S S 44.7 3.9 S S S S S
Multiple modes 58 0.4 S S S S 589 33.5 0.2 S S S S 20.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 11 0.1 2 - 1 - 613 29.5 - 28.2 - 29.3 - 22.6
Truck and rail 47 0.3 S S S S S 37 0.3 S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

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 32,448 100 13,976 100 3,595 100 440 13.2 - 30.4 - 14.1 - 14
Single modes 24,748 76.3 13,386 95.8 3,216 89.4 256 9.7 4.9 32.2 4.2 16.8 5.6 17.7
Truck6 23,996 74 13,330 95.4 3,197 88.9 186 9.7 5 32.3 4.2 16.8 5.6 16.7
For-hire truck 15,081 46.5 5,306 38 2,410 67 420 9.9 4.2 11.3 8.3 15 6.4 16.5
Private truck 8,916 27.5 S S 787 21.9 75 14 3.2 S S 45 5.2 18.7
Rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) 714 2.2 8 0.1 8 0.2 1,096 33.6 0.6 27.4 - 29.8 0.1 36.7
Multiple modes 7,501 23.1 195 1.4 195 5.4 616 34.1 5 18.4 0.5 18.9 1.3 13.2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 7,217 22.2 128 0.9 70 1.9 614 35.3 5.1 23.4 0.3 31.5 0.5 13.2
Truck and rail 255 0.8 55 0.4 103 2.9 1,798 36.1 0.6 30.6 0.3 23.1 1.2 14.2
Truck and water S S S S 18 0.5 4,717 S S S S 47.1 1.6 45.3
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 199 0.6 S S S S S 30.9 0.2 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 54,918 100 20,141 100 10,234 100 832 43.5 - 13.6 - 30 - 14.6
Single modes 50,407 91.8 19,013 94.4 8,877 86.7 266 46 1.6 12.3 2.2 32.1 4.8 31.8
Truck6 43,522 79.2 17,966 89.2 6,851 66.9 246 38.3 2.7 11.1 3.4 18.1 8.5 29.7
For-hire truck 36,401 66.3 12,145 60.3 6,127 59.9 803 47.1 2.3 14.5 4.3 20.8 7 13.4
Private truck 7,121 13 5,821 28.9 724 7.1 54 10.8 4.1 16.9 4.6 18.7 2 40.2
Rail S S S S S S 2,409 S S S S S S 23.5
Air (incl truck and air) 79 0.1 5 - S S 1,629 39.8 0.1 41.8 - S S 21.3
Multiple modes 3,873 7.1 325 1.6 455 4.4 1,087 22.3 1.4 20.5 0.3 24.1 1.8 9.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 2,773 5 132 0.7 109 1.1 1,087 15.4 1.9 16.9 0.2 22.6 0.6 9.6
Truck and rail S S 180 0.9 339 3.3 1,807 S S 36.9 0.4 28.8 2.3 15.2
Truck and water 18 - S S S S 955 42.6 0.1 S S S S 36
Other and unknown modes 637 1.2 S S S S 615 46.9 0.9 S S S S 24.2

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 33,426 100 14,206 100 4,569 100 399 7.7 - 6.1 - 11.8 - 8.3
Single modes 28,253 84.5 13,786 97 4,263 93.3 236 8.5 1.5 6 0.3 11.4 1.5 11.7
Truck6 27,452 82.1 13,402 94.3 3,938 86.2 219 8.2 1.6 6 1.1 12.7 3.5 12.3
For-hire truck 20,028 59.9 8,528 60 3,522 77.1 580 9.3 2.4 5.1 4.8 13.5 3.9 6.4
Private truck 7,424 22.2 4,873 34.3 416 9.1 59 12.9 2.2 19.2 4.7 17.6 1.2 23.4
Rail 287 0.9 369 2.6 303 6.6 1,827 44.9 0.4 36.7 1.3 40.3 4.5 23.1
Air (incl truck and air) S S 15 0.1 22 0.5 1,359 S S 41.4 0.1 42 0.2 29.6
Multiple modes 4,654 13.9 295 2.1 283 6.2 609 9.8 1.2 22.4 0.4 36.1 1.6 9.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 4,236 12.7 115 0.8 69 1.5 607 9.1 1.3 14.4 0.1 11.5 0.3 9.3
Truck and rail 286 0.9 166 1.2 S S 1,693 40.7 0.3 35.6 0.4 S S 20.6
Truck and water S S 14 0.1 25 0.5 S S S 44.2 0.1 47.7 0.3 S
Other and unknown modes 520 1.6 125 0.9 23 0.5 S 32.9 0.7 30.6 0.2 29.8 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 34,073 100 2,578 100 1,465 100 499 11.1 - 12.2 - 14.3 - 11.7
Single modes 23,000 67.5 2,218 86 1,252 85.4 292 13.4 3.3 14.7 3.4 14.8 3.1 20.4
Truck6 22,036 64.7 2,206 85.6 1,230 84 210 13.6 3.1 14.7 3.4 14.1 3.2 27.7
For-hire truck 17,013 49.9 1,421 55.1 1,116 76.2 699 16.2 3.5 15.1 5 16.1 3.2 9.2
Private truck 5,023 14.7 784 30.4 114 7.8 52 13.4 2.4 26.9 5.2 25.2 2.5 22.7
Rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) 961 2.8 S S S S 947 22.2 0.8 S S S S 17.6
Multiple modes 8,911 26.2 130 5 86 5.8 656 16.1 2.9 14.9 1.1 16 1 8.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 8,868 26 130 5 85 5.8 656 16.2 2.9 14.8 1.1 16.2 0.9 8.6
Truck and rail S S S S S S 2,161 S S S S S S 47.7
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 2,161 6.3 230 8.9 128 8.7 S 21.3 1.4 21 2.8 40.5 2.8 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 45,322 100 24,764 100 3,420 100 673 10.4 - 35.3 - 17.8 - 13.7
Single modes 40,435 89.2 24,535 99.1 3,262 95.4 245 10.7 2 35.6 0.3 18.2 0.9 16.5
Truck6 40,228 88.8 24,053 97.1 3,215 94 212 10.8 2 36.7 2.5 18.9 1.9 17.2
For-hire truck 12,653 27.9 S S 2,161 63.2 591 24 4.1 S S 25.2 5.3 8.5
Private truck 27,576 60.8 11,971 48.3 1,054 30.8 85 9.8 4.8 33 7.9 13.3 4.4 12
Rail 129 0.3 481 1.9 46 1.3 94 15.3 0.6 16.8 6.4 22.1 3.2 22.7
Air (incl truck and air) 77 0.2 1 - 2 0.1 1,796 38.1 - 29 - 37.3 - 11.2
Multiple modes 4,445 9.8 167 0.7 134 3.9 928 18.1 1.9 18.3 0.2 15.7 0.7 6.8
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 4,431 9.8 157 0.6 129 3.8 928 18.1 1.9 20.8 0.2 17.3 0.7 6.8
Truck and rail 13 - S S 5 0.1 S 39.3 0.1 S S 25 0.6 S
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 442 1 62 0.2 S S S 27.9 0.3 31.7 0.2 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 23 100 S S S S S 30.3 - 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 38 S S S S S S 38.9
Multiple modes 17 74.6 S S S S S 41.8 13.7 S S S S S
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 17 74.6 S S S S S 41.8 13.7 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.