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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 88,738 100 79,908 100 25,230 100 1,167 17.9 - 17.6 - 26.8 - 12.2
Less than 50 lbs 13,125 14.8 245 0.3 241 1.0 1,320 13.4 2.1 17.3 0.2 28.9 1.1 10.4
50 - 99 lbs 2,664 3.0 102 0.1 34 0.1 326 15.9 0.6 17.0 0.1 11.4 0.1 14.8
100 - 499 lbs 5,552 6.3 574 0.7 131 0.5 236 10.4 0.9 12.2 0.2 16.4 0.2 12.7
500 - 749 lbs 1,658 1.9 264 0.3 63 0.2 242 6.1 0.2 7.5 0.1 14.4 0.1 15.2
750 - 999 lbs 1,061 1.2 206 0.3 44 0.2 214 14.6 0.3 13.6 0.1 11.3 0.1 20.9
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 11,299 12.7 4,097 5.1 786 3.1 196 6.3 1.7 8.0 1.5 8.5 1.4 8.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 28,461 32.1 35,757 44.7 7,098 28.1 182 20.1 2.3 23.2 5.4 17.2 6.9 20.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 5,048 5.7 12,890 16.1 1,198 4.7 97 21.5 1.6 19.3 3.3 13.5 1.4 21.8
More than 100,000 lbs S S 25,774 32.3 15,637 62.0 710 S S 32.0 6.5 38.7 9.8 15.1

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 69,906 100 76,573 100 22,351 100 200 18.7 - 18.1 - 26.6 - 14.2
Less than 50 lbs 3,058 4.4 63 0.1 10 - 241 18.7 0.7 22.7 - 14.7 - 20.5
50 - 99 lbs 1,218 1.7 66 0.1 7 - 100 18.8 0.3 20.8 - 15.9 - 16.0
100 - 499 lbs 4,039 5.8 504 0.7 94 0.4 177 12.6 1.0 12.3 0.2 19.5 0.2 13.9
500 - 749 lbs 1,421 2.0 245 0.3 52 0.2 216 7.8 0.2 7.1 0.1 16.4 0.1 17.6
750 - 999 lbs 1,009 1.4 197 0.3 40 0.2 202 15.6 0.3 13.1 0.1 11.3 0.1 21.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 10,638 15.2 4,038 5.3 737 3.3 184 6.6 2.2 8.1 1.5 8.8 1.6 7.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 26,070 37.3 35,297 46.1 6,668 29.8 174 16.0 2.9 23.6 5.5 16.1 7.6 21.2
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 5,013 7.2 12,831 16.8 1,180 5.3 96 21.1 1.8 19.4 3.4 13.6 1.5 22.1
More than 100,000 lbs S S 23,333 30.5 13,564 60.7 673 S S 34.6 6.6 40.2 9.9 16.2

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 50,770 100 54,008 100 8,879 100 163 8.7 - 20.6 - 13.2 - 17.0
Less than 50 lbs 2,386 4.7 61 0.1 8 0.1 162 26.0 0.9 23.4 - 20.7 - 29.2
50 - 99 lbs 1,115 2.2 66 0.1 6 0.1 93 21.6 0.4 20.8 0.1 16.4 - 15.7
100 - 499 lbs 3,826 7.5 502 0.9 91 1.0 172 11.6 1.0 12.2 0.3 20.0 0.3 14.7
500 - 749 lbs 1,385 2.7 245 0.5 51 0.6 215 8.0 0.2 7.1 0.1 16.7 0.1 17.8
750 - 999 lbs 941 1.9 195 0.4 38 0.4 194 17.2 0.4 13.3 0.1 11.8 0.1 20.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 10,423 20.5 3,897 7.2 724 8.2 185 6.5 1.9 7.7 1.5 8.8 1.5 7.6
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 24,412 48.1 34,264 63.4 6,437 72.5 173 14.8 3.8 23.3 4.1 16.6 3.0 20.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 4,811 9.5 12,461 23.1 1,141 12.9 96 21.4 1.9 18.8 4.0 14.0 2.5 24.5
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

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 27,780 100 17,959 100 7,080 100 652 12.3 - 18.4 - 14.4 - 12.0
Less than 50 lbs 1,350 4.9 7 - 6 0.1 790 43.0 1.7 19.9 - 26.8 - 19.5
50 - 99 lbs 487 1.8 7 - 4 0.1 600 36.7 0.6 13.6 - 19.6 - 12.3
100 - 499 lbs 1,638 5.9 88 0.5 66 0.9 751 17.8 1.0 13.5 0.1 21.7 0.3 10.8
500 - 749 lbs 627 2.3 55 0.3 42 0.6 795 12.6 0.4 11.4 0.1 18.6 0.2 17.3
750 - 999 lbs 457 1.6 51 0.3 30 0.4 585 13.8 0.3 12.0 0.1 13.5 0.1 11.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 5,055 18.2 935 5.2 529 7.5 588 10.6 2.7 10.1 1.3 9.4 1.5 8.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 15,643 56.3 11,981 66.7 5,550 78.4 455 19.1 4.2 21.8 3.1 17.2 3.0 13.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 2,311 8.3 4,490 25.0 646 9.1 145 31.0 2.2 19.2 2.5 16.7 2.1 39.4
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 663 S S S S S S 29.8

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 22,990 100 36,049 100 1,799 100 45 7.6 - 25.2 - 15.6 - 7.3
Less than 50 lbs 1,036 4.5 53 0.1 2 0.1 35 10.3 0.5 26.6 0.1 21.0 - 18.5
50 - 99 lbs 628 2.7 59 0.2 2 0.1 34 18.5 0.5 22.6 0.1 20.2 - 5.9
100 - 499 lbs 2,188 9.5 414 1.1 25 1.4 54 11.5 1.4 13.1 0.5 18.9 0.3 12.6
500 - 749 lbs 758 3.3 190 0.5 9 0.5 48 11.4 0.3 9.4 0.2 26.8 0.2 14.9
750 - 999 lbs 483 2.1 145 0.4 8 0.5 57 23.0 0.5 17.1 0.1 22.3 0.1 21.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 5,368 23.3 2,962 8.2 195 10.8 70 9.4 2.0 8.3 2.0 9.9 2.2 7.7
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 8,768 38.1 22,283 61.8 886 49.3 38 13.0 3.9 28.7 4.8 16.1 4.2 25.5
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 2,500 10.9 7,971 22.1 495 27.5 65 17.6 2.2 22.5 5.0 21.0 5.4 24.2
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 95 S S S S S S 24.2

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 S S 17,757 100 13,247 100 724 S S 46.4 - 41.7 - 23.9
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs S S - - S S S S S 13.1 12.7 S S S
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 S S S S S S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 15 0.1 S S S S 1,493 41.2 10.8 S S S S 29.1
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,032 S S S S S S 33.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 30 0.2 128 0.7 S S 248 40.4 0.2 25.7 1.5 S S 39.5
More than 100,000 lbs S S 17,410 98.0 13,025 98.3 707 S S 45.9 9.1 40.7 10.1 15.6

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 1,212 100 10 100 13 100 1,349 18.4 - 19.4 - 12.9 - 7.1
Less than 50 lbs 672 55.4 2 17.5 2 19.4 1,349 34.5 9.7 29.2 8.6 26.7 9.3 9.0
50 - 99 lbs 103 8.5 - 3.3 - 3.6 1,378 41.2 4.4 35.3 1.1 37.9 1.0 7.8
100 - 499 lbs 212 17.5 2 18.8 S S 1,348 33.4 5.5 42.7 6.9 S S 8.8
500 - 749 lbs 36 3.0 1 5.5 1 4.1 920 24.1 1.4 38.3 2.9 31.2 2.2 19.2
750 - 999 lbs 67 5.6 S S S S 1,838 37.3 4.4 S S S S 11.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 100 8.2 3 27.1 4 29.1 1,323 23.9 7.0 32.1 10.3 39.9 11.0 14.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 597 S S S S S S 0.4
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Pipeline5

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 3,236 100 4,797 100 S S S 31.9 - 28.9 - S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S 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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 2,372 73.3 3,606 75.2 S S S 24.4 10.7 22.2 10.3 S S S

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 15,993 100 2,741 100 2,530 100 1,436 15.2 - 36.1 - 30.6 - 6.0
Less than 50 lbs 9,865 61.7 176 6.4 230 9.1 1,449 18.8 6.5 25.4 8.8 30.5 9.8 5.9
50 - 99 lbs 1,374 8.6 31 1.1 27 1.1 838 15.6 2.2 16.1 1.4 13.7 1.6 6.0
100 - 499 lbs 1,410 8.8 50 1.8 36 1.4 736 18.1 1.9 18.2 3.1 17.2 2.5 10.8
500 - 749 lbs 215 1.3 14 0.5 10 0.4 718 29.0 0.3 35.5 0.6 45.1 0.3 29.1
750 - 999 lbs 38 0.2 S S 4 0.2 S 28.7 0.1 S S 39.9 0.1 S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 2,818 S S S S S S 17.5
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S 52 1.9 S S 2,863 S S 41.4 1.7 S S 16.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs S S 2,404 87.7 2,073 81.9 1,259 S S 41.2 10.9 37.5 11.7 9.1

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 12,878 100 275 100 302 100 1,436 16.2 - 19.1 - 24.4 - 6.1
Less than 50 lbs 9,865 76.6 176 64.2 229 75.9 1,449 18.8 3.0 25.4 5.2 30.5 4.8 5.9
50 - 99 lbs 1,373 10.7 31 11.4 27 8.8 837 15.6 2.1 16.2 2.1 13.7 2.3 6.0
100 - 499 lbs 1,404 10.9 50 18.2 36 11.9 733 18.1 1.8 18.2 3.1 17.0 3.3 10.9
500 - 749 lbs 203 1.6 13 4.8 S S 653 30.5 0.8 36.5 1.3 S S 34.3
750 - 999 lbs 26 0.2 4 1.3 S S S 34.3 0.4 45.3 2.9 S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
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 S S 2,448 100 2,149 100 1,432 S S 41.7 - 37.7 - 7.8
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S 2,416 S S S S S S 18.5
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 1,537 S S S S S S 6.9
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 S S S S S S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,556 S S S S S S 26.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S 41 1.7 72 3.3 1,787 S S 37.8 3.2 37.9 4.6 16.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs S S 2,404 98.2 2,073 96.5 1,259 S S 41.2 2.5 37.5 4.5 9.1

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 S S 10 100 33 100 2,856 S S 44.3 - 45.8 - 8.2
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 S S S S S S S S
100 - 499 lbs 2 1.6 - 0.9 - 0.6 2,184 30.4 7.7 41.2 13.8 39.8 14.0 1.9
500 - 749 lbs 8 8.2 - 4.0 1 2.7 2,293 41.6 10.0 39.8 10.5 33.4 10.3 16.4
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 3,312 S S S S S S 14.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 3,117 S S S S S S 11.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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 7,100 S S S S S S 30.3
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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S 7,896 S S S S S S -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 6,260 S S S S S S 39.7
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 S S 279 S S S S S S 22.6
Less than 50 lbs 201 7.1 7 1.1 1 0.3 318 34.3 6.1 29.5 3.2 41.6 7.0 25.5
50 - 99 lbs 73 2.6 4 0.7 - 0.1 S 42.1 5.7 34.9 3.4 47.4 3.0 S
100 - 499 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
500 - 749 lbs 22 0.8 S S S S S 44.2 0.7 S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs 15 0.5 5 0.8 S S S 36.9 5.3 36.5 2.8 S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 508 17.9 52 8.7 S S 534 41.9 12.8 40.0 10.2 S S 33.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 792 S S S S S S 48.8
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S 309 S S S S S S 35.2
More than 100,000 lbs 1 - S S - 0.1 S 20.9 0.1 S S 24.7 0.6 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.