Table 2b. Shipment Characteristics by Total Modal Activity for the United States: 2012 and 2007
(Estimates are based on data from the 2012 and 2007 Commodity Flow Surveys. Because of rounding, estimates may not be additive)
| Mode of transportation (1) | Ton-miles (2) | Percent change | Average miles per shipment | Percent change | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 (millions) | 2007 (millions) | 2012 | 2007 | |||
| Total | 2,969,506 | 3,344,658 | –11.2 | 611 | 610 | 0.2 |
| Truck (3) | 1,255,146 | 1,351,531 | –7.1 | 223 | 203 | 9.8 |
| Rail | 1,387,777 | 1,549,550 | –10.4 | 878 | 852 | 3.0 |
| Inland water | 162,983 | 208,611 | –21.9 | 340 | 217 | 57.0 |
| Great Lakes | 31,931 | 30,835 | 3.6 | 414 | 426 | –2.9 |
| Deep sea | 65,262 | 92,062 | –29.1 | 1,277 | 1,430 | –10.7 |
| Air | 4,118 | 4,425 | –6.9 | 790 | 1,080 | –26.8 |
| Pipeline (4) | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| Parcel, U.S. Postal Service, or courier | 22,490 | 27,852 | –19.3 | 910 | 971 | –6.3 |
| Other modes | 256 | 33,510 | –99.2 | S | 112 | S |
KEY: S = Withheld because estimate did not meet publication standards.
(1) Estimates represent activity for a given mode across single and multiple mode shipments. For example, “Truck” ton-miles includes total ton-miles for shipments moving only by truck plus ton-miles for truck segments of multiple mode shipments.
(2) Ton-miles estimates are based on estimated distances traveled along a modeled transportation network. See “Mileage Calculations” section for additional information.
(3) “Truck” as a single mode includes shipments that were made by only private truck or only for-hire truck.
(4) Estimates for pipeline exclude shipments of crude petroleum (SCTG 16).
NOTES: Appendix B tables provide estimated measures of sampling variability. The Introduction and appendixes give information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, sample design and definitions. Links to this information on the Internet may be found at <www.census.gov/econ/cfs>.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census: Transportation Commodity Flow Survey, December 2014.