Weight of Shipments by Transportation Mode: 2012, 2015, and 2045
(Billions of 2012 dollars)
Dataset Table:
| 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 | 2045 | 2045 | 2045 | 2045 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions of tons | Total | Domestic | Exports1 | Imports1 | Total | Domestic | Exports1 | Imports1 | Total | Domestic | Exports1 | Imports1 |
| Total | 16,953 | 14,953 | 864 | 1,136 | 18,056 | 16,045 | 912 | 1,099 | 25,345 | 20,914 | 2,190 | 2,241 |
| Truck | 10,166 | 9,970 | 107 | 89 | 10,859 | 10,649 | 110 | 100 | 14,866 | 14,270 | 291 | 305 |
| Rail | 1,613 | 1,487 | 52 | 74 | 1,607 | 1,458 | 54 | 85 | 1,921 | 1,597 | 108 | 216 |
| Water | 933 | 506 | 68 | 359 | 936 | 553 | 94 | 289 | 1,158 | 614 | 189 | 355 |
| Air, air & truck | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 38 | 4 | 16 | 18 |
| Multiple modes & mail | 1,320 | 311 | 596 | 413 | 1,353 | 327 | 613 | 412 | 2,971 | 434 | 1,519 | 1,018 |
| Pipeline | 2,870 | 2,641 | 36 | 194 | 3,258 | 3,017 | 37 | 204 | 4,361 | 3,978 | 63 | 319 |
| Other & unknown | 41 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 33 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 31 | 16 | 4 | 11 |
Notes:
Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. The 2015 data are provisional estimates that are based on selected modal and economic trend data. All truck, rail, water, and pipeline movements that involve more than one mode, including exports and imports that change mode at international gateways, are included in multiple modes & mail to avoid double counting. As a consequence, rail and water totals in this table are less than those reported in other published sources.
1Data do not include imports and exports that pass through the United States from a foreign origin to a foreign destination by any mode.
Description:
In 2015 the U.S. transportation system moved a daily average of about 49.5 million tons of freight valued at more than $52.7 billion. The Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) estimates show that the tonnage of goods moved in 2015 fully rebounded from the declines experienced during the December 2007-June 2009 economic recession. Tonnage is projected to increase at about 1.2 percent per year between 2015 and 2045.
Source:
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and USDOT, Federal Highway Administration, Freight Analysis Framework, version 4.2, 2016.