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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 145,420 100 139,088 100 29,853 100 965 12.1 - 11.8 - 16.7 - 14.5
Single modes 109,344 75.2 117,868 84.7 20,459 68.5 221 15.1 2.7 11.7 3.3 19.5 6.1 13.1
Truck6 83,941 57.7 106,159 76.3 13,441 45 197 6 4.5 14.3 5.3 19.9 6.5 15.6
For-hire truck 43,808 30.1 43,425 31.2 11,074 37.1 655 8.6 2.2 19.5 3.3 22.6 5.4 15.7
Private truck 40,133 27.6 62,734 45.1 2,368 7.9 40 4.7 2.8 15.9 5.5 15.6 1.9 7
Rail 1,170 0.8 2,540 1.8 2,325 7.8 1,150 28.2 0.2 31 0.7 22.7 2.7 23.6
Water S S S S S S 2,004 S S S S S S 10
Shallow draft 60 - S S S S 2 25.1 - S S S S 21.8
Deep draft S S S S S S 2,011 S S S S S S 10
Air (incl truck and air) S S 37 - 76 0.3 1,888 S S 41.3 - 37.4 0.1 5.3
Pipeline7 3,704 2.5 5,604 4 S S S 36.8 2.6 36.6 5.3 S S S
Multiple modes 32,039 22 13,380 9.6 9,170 30.7 1,497 11.6 2.8 40.8 2.5 39.1 6.1 10.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 24,797 17.1 396 0.3 435 1.5 1,496 13.8 2.6 10.9 - 16.2 0.4 10.6
Truck and rail 2,585 1.8 720 0.5 1,190 4 1,968 36.6 0.6 23.4 0.1 22.5 1.6 9
Truck and water 2,576 1.8 2,592 1.9 S S 1,977 23.4 0.6 41 1.2 S S 3
Rail and water 24 - S S S S S 50 0.1 S S S S S
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 4,037 2.8 7,840 5.6 224 0.7 119 16.3 0.7 43.9 2.9 23.8 0.3 35.8

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 8,078 100 8,470 100 S S S 20.4 - 43.6 - S S S
Single modes 5,280 65.4 2,534 29.9 609 13 S 29.6 8.6 40.7 15 26 19.3 S
Truck6 5,107 63.2 2,484 29.3 554 11.8 S 30.7 8.3 41.8 14.3 23.4 18.6 S
For-hire truck 2,364 29.3 S S 481 10.3 927 19.2 8 S S 25.9 15.9 25.4
Private truck 2,743 34 1,253 14.8 S S S 42.5 7.8 43.7 10.3 S S S
Rail S S 18 0.2 S S S S S 28.9 14.1 S S S
Water S S S S S S 2,668 S S S S S S 29.9
Shallow draft 45 0.6 10 0.1 - - 1 4.3 0.3 5.1 0.3 5.1 - -
Deep draft S S S S S S 2,681 S S S S S S 15.3
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 1,937 S S S S S S 19
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 2 - S S S S S 43.8 0.1 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 2,262 S S S S S S 11.9
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S S S 30 0.6 864 S S S S 47.2 1.6 23.6

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 10,004 100 7,141 100 2,538 100 115 12.8 - 15 - 22.8 - 28.8
Single modes 9,606 96 6,925 97 2,160 85.1 70 13.2 1.1 14.7 0.9 24 5.8 21.3
Truck6 9,412 94.1 6,809 95.4 1,888 74.4 68 12.9 0.9 14.7 1 24.1 7.3 21
For-hire truck 4,022 40.2 2,846 39.9 1,717 67.6 431 22.9 5 18.6 5.8 26.2 6.1 20.5
Private truck 5,390 53.9 3,963 55.5 171 6.7 35 16.6 5.3 19.9 6.4 24.1 3.7 12.7
Rail 192 1.9 114 1.6 270 10.7 2,323 37.8 1.2 32.6 1.2 38.9 10.7 23
Air (incl truck and air) 2 - S S S S 1,141 35.7 - S S S S 20.1
Multiple modes 335 3.3 183 2.6 372 14.7 733 16.5 1.2 47.8 0.9 44.4 5.9 33.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 106 1.1 12 0.2 5 0.2 583 32.1 0.4 48.6 0.1 34.7 0.2 33.7
Truck and rail S S 14 0.2 32 1.3 2,294 S S 26.6 1.4 31.3 8.4 2.1
Truck and water 164 1.6 S S S S 1,673 23.6 0.6 S S S S 15.1
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 64 0.6 S S S S 121 43.3 0.5 S S S S 46.7

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 733 100 51,934 100 2,793 100 37 27.3 - 23.5 - 45.6 - 12.9
Single modes 683 93.2 45,385 87.4 2,064 73.9 33 28.8 3.7 19.3 4.6 32.8 7.1 18.3
Truck6 680 92.7 45,063 86.8 2,043 73.1 33 28.9 3.6 19.5 4.4 33.2 6.8 18.5
For-hire truck 367 50.1 18,980 36.5 S S 46 33.3 8.2 32.8 9.8 S S 23.7
Private truck 312 42.6 26,083 50.2 704 25.2 27 29.9 9.1 28.4 10.6 39.7 11.3 10.3
Rail S S 317 0.6 6 0.2 18 S S 47.9 5 47.9 3.9 -
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
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
Truck and rail 1 0.2 S S 18 0.6 S 6 1.8 S S 13.4 11.4 S
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other multiple modes 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 13,689 100 23,255 100 S S 30 29.5 - 37.1 - S S 21.6
Single modes 10,774 78.7 17,439 75 S S 30 28.1 8.8 34.8 7.9 S S 22.5
Truck6 5,226 38.2 7,679 33 S S 29 28.7 13.2 25.8 13.1 S S 21.8
For-hire truck 230 1.7 409 1.8 S S 250 19.9 0.5 26 0.8 S S 28.3
Private truck 4,996 36.5 7,270 31.3 S S 24 29.9 13.2 26.9 13.1 S S 17.9
Rail 452 3.3 944 4.1 S S 349 19.4 6.4 12.9 8.1 S S 18.8
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
Deep draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Pipeline7 3,704 27.1 5,604 24.1 S S S 36.8 17.6 36.6 15.3 S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S 643 S S S S S S 44.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S - - S S S S S 49.7 18.2 S S S
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other multiple modes S S S S S S 103 S S S S S S 46.3
Other and unknown modes 724 5.3 1,098 4.7 11 0.2 12 38.9 3.3 39.2 4.4 46.4 1.3 39.8

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 15,173 100 1,983 100 1,112 100 533 14 - 31.8 - 36.7 - 19
Single modes 6,407 42.2 1,748 88.1 S S 328 20.6 10.7 35.9 4.7 S S 20
Truck6 6,293 41.5 1,745 88 S S 297 20.5 10.5 36 4.7 S S 23.9
For-hire truck 4,711 31 1,268 64 S S 505 28.9 10.1 40.8 7.2 S S 29.4
Private truck 1,583 10.4 477 24 43 3.9 41 18 4.7 26.7 6.4 33.2 1.9 18
Rail S S 1 - S S 1,335 S S 9.8 0.6 S S 0.9
Water S S 1 - 1 0.1 2,350 S S 34.9 0.3 38.7 1.8 13.3
Deep draft S S 1 - 1 0.1 2,350 S S 34.9 0.3 38.7 1.8 13.3
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 2,256 S S S S S S 13.5
Multiple modes 8,608 56.7 174 8.8 S S 612 30.4 10.9 32.7 4.3 S S 26.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 8,472 55.8 87 4.4 52 4.7 609 31.1 11 27.8 1.6 32.3 3.5 26.8
Truck and rail S S S S S S 2,647 S S S S S S 21
Truck and water 66 0.4 S S S S 2,138 38 0.5 S S S S 15.1
Other multiple modes 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 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 15,004 100 18,064 100 6,715 100 1,434 10.5 - 23.3 - 11.9 - 19.8
Single modes 12,971 86.5 17,064 94.5 5,022 74.8 S 11.8 2 24.5 2.2 13.1 6.1 S
Truck6 12,468 83.1 16,047 88.8 3,076 45.8 S 12.4 3.1 26.2 2.9 21 8 S
For-hire truck 8,624 57.5 7,646 42.3 2,679 39.9 S 17.3 3.9 16 7.8 19.6 6.9 S
Private truck 3,844 25.6 8,401 46.5 397 5.9 54 14.9 4.1 47.2 8.6 43 2.1 10.8
Rail 311 2.1 983 5.4 1,878 28 1,837 20.5 0.6 25.8 1.6 29 7.2 9.5
Water S S S S S S 1,714 S S S S S S 29.7
Deep draft S S S S S S 1,714 S S S S S S 29.7
Air (incl truck and air) 152 1 3 - 4 0.1 1,711 49.1 0.9 44.4 - 33.8 - 13.2
Multiple modes 1,881 12.5 771 4.3 1,660 24.7 1,750 15.8 2.1 24.9 2 31.2 6.1 14.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,416 9.4 63 0.3 83 1.2 1,749 23.4 2.1 40.7 0.1 48.8 0.5 14.6
Truck and rail S S 358 2 647 9.6 1,568 S S 35.3 2.1 32.9 5.9 23.2
Truck and water 200 1.3 350 1.9 S S 2,326 25.9 0.5 45.1 1 S S 8.4
Other and unknown modes 152 1 229 1.3 S S S 22.6 0.3 32.3 0.4 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 18,724 100 19,534 100 4,647 100 560 17.4 - 22.7 - 29.8 - 18.9
Single modes 14,782 78.9 18,822 96.4 3,774 81.2 189 18 2.2 23.3 1.3 35.8 4.9 20.2
Truck6 14,506 77.5 18,503 94.7 3,302 71.1 152 18.1 2.4 23.5 1.8 40.2 6.3 22
For-hire truck 7,360 39.3 7,416 38 2,889 62.2 884 32.6 5.2 33.9 7.1 46.3 6.8 12.8
Private truck 7,146 38.2 11,087 56.8 413 8.9 31 14.8 4.8 29.9 7.5 27.8 5.4 14.8
Rail S S S S 20 0.4 S S S S S 43.3 0.5 S
Water 72 0.4 220 1.1 448 9.7 2,022 25.1 0.1 33.3 0.3 17.5 2.8 10.8
Shallow draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Deep draft 58 0.3 161 0.8 448 9.6 2,026 19.3 0.1 16.2 0.4 17.5 2.8 10.9
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 2,044 S S S S S S 15.5
Multiple modes 3,416 18.2 601 3.1 866 18.6 1,171 19 2.1 39.1 1.2 41.9 4.9 16.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 2,744 14.7 61 0.3 53 1.1 1,163 24.3 2.5 26.1 0.1 29.1 0.4 16.4
Truck and rail S S 192 1 175 3.8 1,425 S S 47.4 0.8 45.3 1.9 18.6
Truck and water S S S S 634 13.6 2,070 S S S S 45.1 4.1 6.1
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other multiple modes S S S S S S 394 S S S S S S 23.8
Other and unknown modes 526 2.8 110 0.6 7 0.2 S 36.1 0.9 40 0.2 27.7 0.1 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 42,962 100 918 100 826 100 1,275 38.5 - 15 - 21.4 - 12.7
Single modes 33,620 78.3 796 86.8 630 76.3 543 48.3 7.1 16.4 2.7 25.2 6.4 29.5
Truck6 15,191 35.4 744 81 572 69.2 476 21.5 7.5 17.1 2.2 28.8 6.5 34.2
For-hire truck 10,115 23.5 374 40.7 534 64.6 1,525 27.2 6.4 21.1 5.7 30.7 7.1 12.5
Private truck 5,076 11.8 370 40.3 38 4.6 27 17.1 2.2 23.1 6.1 34.5 2.2 7.1
Rail 89 0.2 S S S S 1,758 24.5 0.5 S S S S 43.6
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) S S S S S S 1,834 S S S S S S 10.2
Multiple modes 8,882 20.7 98 10.7 189 22.9 1,731 15.8 6.8 16.9 3 23.8 6.4 8.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 8,802 20.5 72 7.8 121 14.7 1,731 16.1 6.8 19.4 3.2 26.1 6.9 8.1
Truck and rail 51 0.1 S S S S 1,941 12.8 0.6 S S S S 7.4
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 460 1.1 24 2.6 S S S 22.3 0.7 40.9 0.6 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 21,045 100 7,789 100 1,669 100 738 8.9 - 19.4 - 10.4 - 14.4
Single modes 15,217 72.3 7,154 91.9 1,035 62 209 11.9 4.5 18.5 1.4 12.9 5.6 9
Truck6 15,053 71.5 7,085 91 906 54.3 201 11.9 4.5 18.5 1.4 13.2 6.6 8.9
For-hire truck 6,013 28.6 3,255 41.8 659 39.5 797 17.6 2.6 25.2 4.1 16.2 5.2 13.8
Private truck 9,040 43 3,830 49.2 247 14.8 67 11.9 4.7 15.9 4.3 12.3 2.2 6.9
Rail 34 0.2 S S S S 1,964 26 0.1 S S S S 34.5
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) 39 0.2 S S S S 1,503 40.9 0.1 S S S S 20.9
Multiple modes 5,459 25.9 299 3.8 595 35.6 1,342 19.9 4.3 14.9 1.4 18.6 5.8 10.8
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 3,218 15.3 87 1.1 118 7.1 1,333 31.1 3.9 30.1 0.6 43.4 2.4 10.8
Truck and rail 1,786 8.5 97 1.2 248 14.9 2,599 40.3 5.5 28 1.2 27 6.5 1.9
Truck and water 446 2.1 114 1.5 228 13.6 2,075 44.9 0.9 37.9 0.8 42.5 6.1 12
Other multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 370 1.8 S S 39 2.4 S 38.1 0.5 S S 36.3 0.7 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 7 100 - 100 S S 1,800 41.7 - 45.1 - S S 28.4
Single modes 6 82.3 - 93.2 S S S 47.6 18.2 36.6 4.1 S S S
Truck6 6 82.3 - 93.2 S S S 47.6 18.2 36.6 4.1 S S S
For-hire truck S S S S S S 2,072 S S S S S S 0.1
Private truck S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S 2,640 S S S S S S 48.8
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 2,640 S S S S S S 48.8

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.