Standard Classification of Transported Goods (SCTG) Codes

Hierarchical Features

The SCTG employs a five-digit numbering system, the structure of which is hierarchical.The hierarchy has four levels, each of which follows two important principles. First, each level covers the universe of transported goods. Second, the commodities in a given classification of a given level are mutually exclusive of those in any other classification of that level.

Each individual product classification in the SCTG is based on building blocks provided by the Harmonized Commodity Description and Code System (HS) or the Standard Classification of Goods (the SCG, Canadas extension of the HS). In addition, individual product classifications in the SCTG have been designed to create statistically significant categories for transportation analysis, i.e., there is some aspect of the transportation system for which the goods in each SCTG product classification are significant.

Meaning of Product Classifications at Different Levels

The first, or two-digit, level of the SCTG consists of product categories, which have been designed to emphasize the link between industries and their outputs. The second, or three-digit, level of the SCTG is designed to provide data for Canada- U.S. comparisons. Categories specified at this level consist of commodities or commodity groups for which very significant product movement levels have been recorded in both the United States (U.S.) and Canada. The third, or four-digit, level of the SCTG is designed to provide data for domestic freight transportation analyses. Four-digit categories may be of major data significance to either the U.S. or Canada, but not neccessarily to both countries. The fourth, or five-digit, level of the SCTG is designed to provide categories for collecting (and potentially reporting) freight movement data. Five-digit categories are of relevance but not major data significance to either the U.S. or Canada. Product codes at the five-digit level have been designed to create statistically significant categories for transportation analysis.

Example of SCTG Hierarchy