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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 70,096 100 105,817 100 32,957 100 1,370 9.2 - 10.9 - 18.2 - 18.6
Single modes 54,659 78 89,537 84.6 23,192 70.4 786 7.3 2.3 9.3 2.9 13.2 3.8 23.9
Truck6 43,157 61.6 72,454 68.5 15,305 46.4 637 4.5 4.1 10.9 4.7 16.9 4.1 25
For-hire truck 26,720 38.1 29,651 28 13,799 41.9 1,349 7.4 1.7 14.8 3.5 18.7 3.9 18.4
Private truck 16,437 23.4 42,802 40.4 1,505 4.6 43 8.5 3.4 17.8 6 10.9 0.9 5.2
Rail 4,048 5.8 6,817 6.4 5,645 17.1 1,204 20.8 1.7 9.5 1.7 7.6 2.7 8.7
Water S S S S S S 1,303 S S S S S S 26.4
Shallow draft S S 3,881 3.7 S S 160 S S 45 1.1 S S 27
Deep draft S S S S 141 0.4 S S S S S 48.8 0.5 S
Air (incl truck and air) 1,244 1.8 24 - 40 0.1 2,296 26 0.4 27.7 - 40.9 0.1 10.9
Pipeline7 S S 5,417 5.1 S S S S S 44.3 4.6 S S S
Multiple modes 14,675 20.9 14,401 13.6 9,581 29.1 1,787 19.4 2.3 40.9 3.3 33.7 3.9 12.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 8,168 11.7 189 0.2 260 0.8 1,787 22.5 2.4 30.1 - 42.6 0.3 12.7
Truck and rail 1,737 2.5 2,266 2.1 3,583 10.9 1,881 18.3 0.4 21 0.5 26.1 3.1 5.9
Truck and water S S 6,809 6.4 S S 2,009 S S 41.5 2 S S 11.3
Rail and water S S S S S S 353 S S S S S S 19.8
Other multiple modes S S 988 0.9 177 0.5 316 S S 33.7 1 30.5 0.5 32.2
Other and unknown modes 761 1.1 S S S S S 31.8 0.3 S S S S 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 9,004 100 17,566 100 7,405 100 483 27.8 - 36 - 35.6 - 37.7
Single modes 8,082 89.8 13,069 74.4 5,475 73.9 528 23.9 2.8 22 6.5 27.3 5.8 32.8
Truck6 6,835 75.9 8,870 50.5 4,289 57.9 528 21.5 4.5 18.2 8.8 30 8.2 33.4
For-hire truck 5,184 57.6 5,552 31.6 4,088 55.2 1,184 27.5 7.8 22.7 7.4 31.3 7.9 13.6
Private truck 1,651 18.3 3,317 18.9 201 2.7 S 16.4 7 27.4 7.1 24.3 2.3 S
Rail 481 5.3 1,849 10.5 598 8.1 566 26.2 4.1 29.8 7.6 33.3 8 29
Water S S S S S S 252 S S S S S S 9.8
Shallow draft S S S S S S 252 S S S S S S 9.8
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S S S S S S 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 39.7 - S
Truck and rail 40 0.4 101 0.6 256 3.5 2,572 36.2 0.9 44 0.9 43.3 5.8 7.5
Truck and water S S 5 - 14 0.2 2,212 S S 44.8 - 47.8 0.4 18.7
Rail and water S S S S S S 381 S S S S S S 1.9
Other multiple modes 51 0.6 236 1.3 86 1.2 365 6.3 3.2 31.6 10.2 34.1 7.3 3
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 6,603 100 6,781 100 3,241 100 620 12.6 - 22.7 - 18.9 - 32
Single modes 6,281 95.1 6,210 91.6 2,871 88.6 369 13.3 2.7 19.6 2.7 20.6 3.4 42.4
Truck6 5,724 86.7 5,884 86.8 2,102 64.9 110 13.8 3.9 20.3 2.5 25.8 5.4 35.9
For-hire truck 2,962 44.9 2,345 34.6 1,883 58.1 774 14.1 4.5 22.9 6.4 27.2 5.7 12.1
Private truck 2,762 41.8 3,538 52.2 219 6.8 44 20.2 4 30.9 5.5 22.7 1.2 23.8
Rail 349 5.3 321 4.7 757 23.4 2,348 46.6 2.2 18.8 1.1 18.2 3.4 2.6
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 2,043 S S S S S S 2.6
Multiple modes 181 2.7 115 1.7 259 8 2,065 43.4 0.8 18.2 0.5 16 1.5 16.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S 2 - 3 0.1 2,065 S S 41.1 - 44.8 0.1 20.9
Truck and rail 80 1.2 86 1.3 222 6.9 2,473 46.8 0.6 18.4 0.6 16.6 1.8 4.7
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 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 880 100 27,950 100 1,538 100 S 30 - 26.1 - 29.9 - S
Single modes 841 95.6 25,397 90.9 1,237 80.4 S 31.1 2.8 26.4 2.9 34.6 5.9 S
Truck6 811 92.1 24,526 87.7 990 64.4 S 32.5 4.5 26.7 3.1 38.9 8.6 S
For-hire truck 544 61.8 3,374 12.1 S S 136 44.1 9.6 37.4 9 S S 20.4
Private truck 267 30.4 21,151 75.7 421 27.4 19 21.6 9.5 29.4 9 24.6 12.1 20.1
Rail 21 2.4 693 2.5 227 14.7 411 35.1 2 26.9 1.1 40.3 5.4 9.1
Water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Shallow draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 29 3.3 S S 274 17.8 600 40.1 4.9 S S 28.6 8.5 22.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Truck and rail 14 1.6 453 1.6 181 11.7 382 22.8 6.2 27.8 2.2 30.6 7.7 7.6
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 12,361 100 18,658 100 5,501 100 S 31.4 - 30.5 - 49.2 - S
Single modes 8,787 71.1 13,404 71.8 S S S 29.8 8.3 28.7 8.1 S S S
Truck6 3,201 25.9 4,975 26.7 S S 24 38.9 18.2 36.8 17.8 S S 44
For-hire truck S S S S 35 0.6 S S S S S 45.8 3.8 S
Private truck 2,424 19.6 3,918 21 S S 23 33.9 16.6 32.9 16.4 S S 48.9
Rail S S S S S S 238 S S S S S S 44
Water 1,048 8.5 2,273 12.2 S S S 38 4.2 21.5 5.5 S S S
Shallow draft 477 3.9 1,353 7.3 11 0.2 8 33.9 9.8 32 13.4 31 1.3 -
Deep draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Pipeline7 S S 5,413 29 S S S S S 44.2 13.1 S S S
Multiple modes S S 5,254 28.2 S S 1,184 S S 50 9.7 S S 24.9
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 1,719 S S S S S S 30.2
Truck and water S S 4,668 25 3,583 65.1 S S S 39.1 12.6 47 14.8 S
Other multiple modes S S S S S S 130 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 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 3,744 100 2,610 100 991 100 1,132 13.5 - 27.6 - 23.2 - 19.2
Single modes 2,977 79.5 2,465 94.4 825 83.2 362 14.5 4.3 27.4 1.8 23.8 5.1 48.4
Truck6 2,709 72.3 1,832 70.2 463 46.7 S 14.6 4.7 23.7 6 25.1 4.9 S
For-hire truck 1,501 40.1 866 33.2 406 40.9 825 16.6 4.5 25.6 5.6 27.6 4.5 17.3
Private truck 1,207 32.2 966 37 57 5.7 36 20.5 5.4 26.1 7.2 27.5 2.6 19.5
Rail 185 4.9 S S 355 35.8 S 45.5 1.6 S S 24 6.1 S
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 2,082 S S S S S S 14.2
Pipeline7 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 749 20 139 5.3 166 16.7 1,714 23 4.2 42.5 1.9 34.4 5.1 10.9
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 680 18.2 12 0.5 18 1.8 1,714 23.4 4 26.5 0.2 30.8 2 11
Truck and rail 62 1.7 125 4.8 143 14.4 1,626 33.2 0.7 39.9 3 30.6 6.9 25.7
Truck and water S S S S S S 2,533 S S S S S S 8
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 18 0.5 6 0.2 1 0.1 S 30.2 0.3 40.6 0.5 47.9 0.2 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 8,796 100 19,073 100 11,154 100 1,729 9.2 - 18.8 - 13.9 - 24.3
Single modes 7,272 82.7 16,373 85.8 8,437 75.6 1,199 9.1 4.6 16.6 3.4 11.4 4.7 26.7
Truck6 6,227 70.8 14,272 74.8 5,399 48.4 236 11.3 5.3 19.2 4.3 18.2 6.3 11.7
For-hire truck 5,070 57.6 12,773 67 5,268 47.2 422 12.7 5.1 20.7 4.9 18.4 6.3 12.9
Private truck 1,157 13.2 1,500 7.9 131 1.2 50 14.6 2 12.2 1.4 26 0.3 17.9
Rail 994 11.3 2,088 10.9 3,003 26.9 1,540 9.9 1.4 10 2.6 10.7 3.2 9
Water S S S S S S 2,666 S S S S S S 3.8
Deep draft S S S S S S 2,666 S S S S S S 3.8
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 2,560 S S S S S S 21.7
Multiple modes 1,485 16.9 S S 2,698 24.2 1,798 43.5 4.6 S S 38.5 4.6 16.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 1,799 S S S S S S 17.5
Truck and rail 494 5.6 1,253 6.6 2,394 21.5 1,666 19.4 1.3 31.5 1.7 37.9 4.2 8.4
Truck and water 68 0.8 S S S S 1,494 47.9 1.2 S S S S 44.9
Other multiple modes S S S S 15 0.1 S S S S S 27.4 0.9 S
Other and unknown modes 38 0.4 39 0.2 S S S 30.4 0.1 40.2 0.1 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 7,225 100 8,815 100 1,794 100 615 10.9 - 17.1 - 20.8 - 24.8
Single modes 5,834 80.7 8,585 97.4 1,586 88.4 178 11.9 3.1 17.4 1.1 23.2 2.7 48.2
Truck6 5,220 72.2 8,187 92.9 1,033 57.6 S 10.9 3.1 18.8 3.6 18.1 4.4 S
For-hire truck 3,255 45.1 2,154 24.4 856 47.7 395 15.3 3.5 26.4 8.6 22.4 5 37.6
Private truck 1,965 27.2 6,033 68.4 177 9.9 54 14.8 4.2 26.8 10.7 22 5.3 20.2
Rail 554 7.7 397 4.5 551 30.7 1,467 30.9 1.8 45.7 3 36.8 3.9 9.6
Water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Deep draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) 58 0.8 1 - 2 0.1 1,947 38.4 0.3 38 - 37.1 0.1 9.5
Multiple modes 1,211 16.8 133 1.5 201 11.2 1,165 17.5 3.1 20 1 29.9 2.7 15.9
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 968 13.4 35 0.4 27 1.5 1,164 22.3 3.3 20.7 0.2 28.1 1.4 15.8
Truck and rail 204 2.8 83 0.9 162 9 1,488 27.7 1.2 23.2 1.1 24.8 2.8 15.4
Truck and water S S S S S S 2,016 S S S S S S 46.6
Other and unknown modes 181 2.5 S S S S S 46.4 0.9 S S S S 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 13,720 100 737 100 585 100 1,129 15.1 - 17.7 - 19.4 - 18.7
Single modes 8,039 58.6 535 72.5 254 43.5 S 18.3 5.1 15.6 3.5 23.4 3.4 S
Truck6 6,044 44.1 448 60.8 239 40.9 S 20.9 4.4 17.6 6.6 25 3.5 S
For-hire truck 4,212 30.7 258 35 224 38.3 1,150 24.7 3.7 23.5 5.9 26 4 17
Private truck 1,832 13.4 190 25.8 15 2.6 S 20.6 3.5 23.6 8.2 30.3 0.9 S
Rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Deep draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) 821 6 S S 4 0.7 1,948 30.5 1.6 S S 43.1 0.2 14.1
Multiple modes 5,450 39.7 160 21.7 312 53.4 1,754 19.8 5.4 20.7 2.7 19.1 4.4 11.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 4,588 33.4 61 8.2 101 17.2 1,751 24.3 6.1 30.6 2.6 33.4 6.5 11.9
Truck and rail 820 6 95 12.9 201 34.3 2,266 33.4 2.5 31 3.3 29 6.9 4.1
Truck and water 43 0.3 4 0.5 11 1.9 2,428 38.5 1.4 32.9 1.7 38.8 15.2 6.1
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 7,692 100 3,593 100 748 100 1,617 14.2 - 25.1 - 17 - 22.3
Single modes 6,474 84.2 3,467 96.5 665 88.9 1,385 9.7 3.7 26.1 1.2 17.3 2.2 25.9
Truck6 6,316 82.1 3,427 95.4 624 83.4 1,343 10.1 4.1 26.3 1.7 18.7 4.3 26.8
For-hire truck 3,215 41.8 1,272 35.4 470 62.9 1,591 16.7 5.7 25.6 7.2 18.2 3.9 20.1
Private truck 3,102 40.3 2,155 60 154 20.5 67 16.9 5.9 33.6 7.8 25.7 4.1 15.7
Rail 7 0.1 26 0.7 19 2.6 745 37 0.3 36.9 2.2 26.9 5.7 38
Water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Deep draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) S S 1 - 2 0.3 2,137 S S 40.9 - 39.8 0.1 6.9
Multiple modes S S 115 3.2 82 11 2,022 S S 23.8 1.3 35.8 2.3 14.9
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S 40 1.1 S S 2,023 S S 48.5 0.8 S S 14.9
Truck and rail 22 0.3 72 2 24 3.2 S 9.6 0.2 26.5 2.4 27.7 3.2 S
Truck and water 24 0.3 S S S S 2,102 42.7 0.3 S S S S 14.9
Other and unknown modes S S S S 1 0.1 S S S S S 43.9 - 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 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 23 S S S S S S 17.5
Multiple modes S S S S S S 1,229 S S S S S S 22.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 1,229 S S S S S S 22.1

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.