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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 6a: Hazardous Material Shipment Characteristics by Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation: 2007

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Table 6a: Hazardous Material Shipment Characteristics by Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation: 2007

Estimates are based on data from the 2007 Commodity Flow Survey. Because of rounding, estimates may not be additive.

Excel | CSV

Class 1, Explosives

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles 1 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average
miles
per shipment
2007
(million $)
Percent 2007
(thousands)
Percent 2007
(millions)
Percent 2007 CV 2 Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of %
All modes 11,754 100 3,047 100 911 100 738 17.6 - 14.1 - 13 - 8.7
Single modes 10,871 92.5 3,020 99.1 869 95.4 459 18 2.6 14.2 0.2 13 1.4 10.8
Truck 3 10,720 91.2 3,012 98.9 858 94.2 451 18.2 2.7 14.3 0.2 13.2 1.5 11
For-hire truck 7,475 63.6 807 26.5 626 68.8 862 22.3 6.2 15.5 4.2 14.4 4 9.4
Private truck 3,245 27.6 2,205 72.4 231 25.4 108 22.9 5.6 16.1 4.3 17.7 3.5 9
Rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
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 (includes truck and air) 130 1.1 S S S S 1,572 34.5 0.6 S S S S 13.8
Multiple modes 853 7.3 26 0.8 42 4.6 944 28.5 2.6 21.5 0.2 40.3 1.4 7.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 718 6.1 15 0.5 15 1.6 942 30.5 1.2 14.8 0.1 16.7 0.3 7.8
Truck and water S S S S S S 3,036 S S S S S S 19.1
Other and unknown modes 31 0.3 1 - - - S 47.1 0.1 39.5 - 27.3 - S

Class 2, Gases

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles 1 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average
miles
per shipment
2007
(million $)
Percent 2007
(thousands)
Percent 2007
(millions)
Percent 2007 CV 2 Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of %
All modes 131,810 100 250,506 100 55,260 100 51 9.2 - 8.5 - 12.8 - 10.7
Single modes 127,178 96.5 246,129 98.3 53,014 95.9 43 9.3 0.8 8.5 0.5 12.2 0.9 10.6
Truck 3 62,895 47.7 135,935 54.3 20,715 37.5 41 9.1 3.4 13.1 4.8 20.5 6 10.9
For-hire truck 15,925 12.1 24,691 9.9 11,077 20.0 243 14 1.5 16.6 1.6 33.3 4.7 37.9
Private truck 46,970 35.6 111,245 44.4 9,637 17.4 31 12.1 3.6 16.8 5.4 23.6 4.3 10.3
Rail 20,641 15.7 32,538 13.0 22,482 40.7 584 21.4 4.2 18.5 2.1 18.2 4.1 10
Water 1,335 1.0 2,425 1.0 821 1.5 443 20.7 0.4 18.4 0.3 35.4 0.6 37.3
Shallow draft 551 0.4 950 0.4 637 1.2 S 44.5 0.3 37.9 0.3 44.2 1 S
Deep draft 784 0.6 1,475 0.6 S S 284 27.8 0.5 22.7 0.5 S S 40
Air (includes truck and air) 273 0.2 S S 2 - 771 44.8 0.2 S S 44 - 27.9
Pipeline 4 42,033 31.9 75,226 30.0 S S S 20.4 4.3 21.8 5.4 S S S
Multiple modes 3,763 2.9 3,321 1.3 2,185 4.0 665 24 0.7 27.8 0.4 33 0.9 11.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,613 1.2 28 - 8 - 663 40.6 0.5 28.2 - 21 - 12.5
Truck and rail 1,458 1.1 2,338 0.9 1,946 3.5 758 39.9 0.5 33.7 0.3 37.7 0.9 12.5
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Rail and water 543 0.4 725 0.3 112 0.2 145 27.3 0.7 13.4 0.6 23.7 0.4 14.6
Other multiple modes S S S S S S 376 S S S S S S 21.5
Other and unknown modes 868 0.7 1,056 0.4 62 0.1 S 31.3 0.2 34.1 0.2 31 - S

Class 3, Flammable Liquids

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles 1 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average
miles
per shipment
2007
(million $)
Percent 2007
(thousands)
Percent 2007
(millions)
Percent 2007 CV 2 Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of %
All modes 1,170,455 100 1,752,814 100 181,615 100 91 3.3 - 3.3 - 2.7 - 18.6
Single modes 1,107,511 94.6 1,651,675 94.2 146,060 80.4 63 3.1 0.7 3.1 0.8 3.8 3.1 21.7
Truck 3 671,734 57.4 944,272 53.9 55,934 30.8 60 4.3 1.7 5.1 1.9 6.1 2.3 23.5
For-hire truck 285,022 24.4 399,877 22.8 30,423 16.8 167 6.4 1.7 7.5 1.8 7.8 1.7 30.7
Private truck 386,712 33.0 544,394 31.1 25,512 14.0 30 5.5 1 6.3 1.1 8.7 1.3 2.9
Rail 24,095 2.1 31,485 1.8 22,819 12.6 400 14.5 0.3 15.9 0.3 14.1 2.1 30.8
Water 62,635 5.4 129,760 7.4 30,716 16.9 382 15.8 0.8 14.1 0.9 19.6 3.1 24.1
Shallow draft 51,825 4.4 109,441 6.2 16,885 9.3 S 18.6 0.8 16.9 0.9 34.5 3 S
Great Lakes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Deep draft 10,272 0.9 19,102 1.1 12,945 7.1 863 13.8 0.1 11.8 0.2 24 1.7 17.5
Air (includes truck and air) S S S S S S 854 S S S S S S 25.3
Pipeline 4 348,297 29.8 545,821 31.1 S S S 6.1 1.6 5.4 1.8 S S S
Multiple modes 58,161 5.0 95,317 5.4 34,856 19.2 864 15.2 0.6 15.9 0.7 17.1 3.1 8.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 2,304 0.2 104 - 83 - 869 45.8 0.1 27.7 - 49.8 - 8.1
Truck and rail 3,217 0.3 3,864 0.2 4,198 2.3 1,009 29.2 0.1 29.5 0.1 33.4 0.7 9.2
Truck and water 22,881 2.0 36,385 2.1 12,129 6.7 698 25.2 0.4 23.7 0.4 20.3 1.3 38.3
Rail and water 3,803 0.3 3,738 0.2 2,146 1.2 1,813 24.1 0.1 27.1 0.1 26.5 0.3 21.9
Other multiple modes 25,957 2.2 51,225 2.9 16,301 9.0 239 21.8 0.5 21.5 0.6 27.3 2.3 17.7
Other and unknown modes 4,784 0.4 5,822 0.3 698 0.4 77 9.6 - 12.4 - 27.1 0.1 26.8

Class 4, Flammable Solids

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles 1 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average
miles
per shipment
2007
(million $)
Percent 2007
(thousands)
Percent 2007
(millions)
Percent 2007 CV 2 Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of %
All modes 4,067 100 20,408 100 5,547 100 309 22.2 - 20.9 - 21.1 - 18.1
Single modes 3,344 82.2 19,513 95.6 5,325 96.0 253 17.5 4.5 20.8 2.5 21.4 3 19.2
Truck 3 2,424 59.6 10,746 52.7 1,301 23.5 183 14.6 6.8 14.2 7.1 20.5 8.9 22
For-hire truck 1,800 44.3 7,075 34.7 837 15.1 270 20.6 6.6 13.5 8.8 28.5 8.4 17.5
Private truck 624 15.3 3,670 18.0 S S 92 31.5 5.2 35.2 3 S S 18.7
Rail S S 3,995 19.6 3,432 61.9 926 S S 39.1 5.3 33.9 11 16
Water S S S S S S 418 S S S S S S 34.9
Shallow draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Deep draft S S S S S S 649 S S S S S S 14.2
Air (includes truck and air) 25 0.6 1 - S S 754 45.6 0.4 48.6 - S S 22.6
Pipeline 4 9 0.2 S S S S S 44 0.3 S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S 202 3.6 674 S S S S 46.7 2.3 12
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 671 S S S S S S 15.5
Truck and rail 151 3.7 64 0.3 S S S 12.8 6.1 43.7 1.2 S S 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 142 S S S S S S 25.9
Other and unknown modes 9 0.2 S S S S S 38.1 0.5 S S S S S

Class 5, Oxidizers and organic peroxides

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles 1 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average
miles
per shipment
2007
(million $)
Percent 2007
(thousands)
Percent 2007
(millions)
Percent 2007 CV 2 Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of %
All modes 6,695 100 14,959 100 7,024 100 361 10.6 - 15 - 18.9 - 9.8
Single modes 6,253 93.4 13,869 92.7 6,272 89.3 342 11.6 2.8 16.6 3.4 21.1 6 10.7
Truck 3 4,415 65.9 7,843 52.4 2,200 31.3 254 9.4 4.3 14.5 5.6 21 6.6 10.6
For-hire truck 2,617 39.1 4,519 30.2 1,732 24.7 510 13.6 3.1 20.6 2.8 23.7 5 11.3
Private truck 1,798 26.9 3,324 22.2 468 6.7 79 7.4 3.5 12.7 5.2 20.9 3.3 19.4
Rail 1,737 25.9 5,929 39.6 4,070 57.9 689 21.5 3.8 23.2 5.5 24.5 7.4 10
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 (includes truck and air) 68 1.0 1 - S S 1,542 41 0.6 46.5 - S S 13.4
Pipeline 4 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 382 5.7 962 6.4 680 9.7 480 37.1 2.7 44.2 3.3 42.5 5.9 34.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 61 0.9 2 - 1 - 405 39.4 0.5 29.6 - 38.4 - 43.3
Truck and rail 288 4.3 945 6.3 626 8.9 901 43.3 2.5 44.2 3.6 46.5 6.7 32.1
Truck and water 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

Class 6, Toxic (poison)

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles 1 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average
miles
per shipment
2007
(million $)
Percent 2007
(thousands)
Percent 2007
(millions)
Percent 2007 CV 2 Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of %
All modes 21,198 100 11,270 100 5,667 100 467 22 - 13.9 - 15.7 - 14.7
Single modes 20,104 94.8 10,450 92.7 5,555 98.0 327 21.9 1.2 12.8 2.2 16 1 12.3
Truck 3 10,128 47.8 2,951 26.2 849 15.0 246 30.1 5.5 14.4 4.6 15 3.7 9.8
For-hire truck 8,682 41.0 2,414 21.4 774 13.7 436 36.3 5 18.8 4.1 16.3 3.2 12.3
Private truck 1,446 6.8 537 4.8 76 1.3 59 18.2 3.6 12 1.3 16.8 0.7 28.2
Rail 6,782 32.0 5,354 47.5 4,576 80.8 913 20.7 5.5 23.9 9.3 19.2 5.3 14.3
Water S S 1,847 16.4 S S S S S 49.1 13.5 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 23 0.4 S S S S S 22.5 1.6 S
Air (includes truck and air) 36 0.2 1 - S S 767 29 0.1 37.5 - S S 36.2
Pipeline 4 S S 298 2.6 S S S S S 16.2 1.7 S S S
Multiple modes 1,068 5.0 817 7.2 111 2.0 1,013 36 1.2 42.6 2.2 30.8 1 19.9
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S 1 - 1,020 S S S S 36.6 - 19.9
Truck and rail 50 0.2 39 0.3 18 0.3 S 37.1 0.5 43.7 0.4 30.4 0.3 S
Truck and water 6 - 3 - 1 - 237 41.2 0.2 36.4 0.1 46.5 - 49.1
Rail and water 25 0.1 11 0.1 6 0.1 S 26.9 0.4 38.5 0.4 42.7 0.2 S
Other multiple modes S S 762 6.8 86 1.5 117 S S 37.9 2.9 24.4 1.7 23
Other and unknown modes 26 0.1 S S - - S 46.7 0.1 S S 49.8 - S

Class 7, Radioactive materials

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles 1 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average
miles
per shipment
2007
(million $)
Percent 2007
(thousands)
Percent 2007
(millions)
Percent 2007 CV 2 Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of %
All modes 20,633 100 515 100 37 100 S 25.7 - 35.8 - 24 - S
Single modes 19,315 93.6 503 97.6 30 82.3 S 26.9 5.2 36.5 1.6 28.4 5.7 S
Truck 3 19,082 92.5 501 97.1 27 73.0 30 27.2 6.6 36.6 2.2 30.2 6.9 38.2
For-hire truck 2,949 14.3 16 3.0 15 41.5 444 34.9 6.1 43 1.4 45.4 9.2 38
Private truck 16,133 78.2 485 94.1 12 31.5 30 31.1 8.5 37.7 3 29.9 8 18.1
Air (includes truck and air) 233 1.1 2 0.5 3 9.3 1,622 27.7 1.8 24.6 1 36.9 3.5 8.4
Multiple modes 1,218 5.9 9 1.8 6 17.5 938 34 5.2 47 1.6 28.7 5.7 18.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,218 5.9 9 1.8 6 17.5 938 34 5.2 47 1.6 28.7 5.7 18.4
Other and unknown modes 100 0.5 3 0.6 - 0.2 S 18.1 0.3 32.7 0.5 36.9 0.3 S

Class 8, Corrosive materials

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles 1 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average
miles
per shipment
2007
(million $)
Percent 2007
(thousands)
Percent 2007
(millions)
Percent 2007 CV 2 Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of %
All modes 51,475 100 114,441 100 44,395 100 208 5.9 - 9.4 - 16.1 - 14.3
Single modes 47,663 92.6 105,228 91.9 40,316 90.8 151 6.1 1 9.7 1.7 17.6 2.2 14.9
Truck 3 36,616 71.1 57,066 49.9 14,784 33.3 135 7 2.6 6.8 4.3 12.7 4.3 15
For-hire truck 20,930 40.7 31,810 27.8 12,377 27.9 431 7.3 3.2 9.5 2.6 14.1 3.2 6.5
Private truck 15,686 30.5 25,256 22.1 2,406 5.4 57 12.6 2.4 10.8 2.8 11.4 1.2 5
Rail 7,973 15.5 34,839 30.4 22,064 49.7 633 11.9 1.6 26.8 5.8 24.5 6.2 5.4
Water 1,483 2.9 8,342 7.3 3,352 7.5 467 37 1.1 28.6 2.2 45.9 3.1 21.8
Shallow draft 1,142 2.2 5,835 5.1 3,195 7.2 501 45.5 1.2 32.8 2.1 48.1 3.5 21.8
Deep draft S S 2,507 2.2 S S S S S 32.2 10 S S S
Air (includes truck and air) 194 0.4 S S S S 1,041 48.1 0.2 S S S S 11.6
Pipeline 4 1,398 2.7 4,976 4.3 S S S 40.2 1 36.1 1.5 S S S
Multiple modes 3,190 6.2 7,817 6.8 3,477 7.8 651 14.8 0.9 27 1.7 25.4 2.4 14.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,081 2.1 65 0.1 29 0.1 650 22 0.5 43.5 - 20.2 - 14.4
Truck and rail 1,025 2.0 3,747 3.3 2,579 5.8 522 24.3 0.4 30.3 1 24 1.6 43.8
Truck and water 96 0.2 S S S S 3,002 49.1 0.1 S S S S 26.8
Rail and water 513 1.0 1,055 0.9 S S S 44.3 0.7 44.8 0.6 S S S
Other multiple modes 473 0.9 S S 426 1.0 S 42.6 1 S S 37.4 1.5 S
Other and unknown modes 622 1.2 1,396 1.2 S S 175 32.2 0.4 38.2 0.5 S S 25.4

Class 9, Miscellaneous dangerous goods

Hazard Class and Mode of Transportation Value Tons Ton-miles 1 Average miles
per shipment
Value Tons Ton-miles Average
miles
per shipment
2007
(million $)
Percent 2007
(thousands)
Percent 2007
(millions)
Percent 2007 CV 2 Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of % 2007 CV Standard Error of %
All modes 30,131 100 63,173 100 23,002 100 484 10.5 - 9.7 - 12.5 - 16.3
Single modes 28,377 94.2 61,236 96.9 21,664 94.2 259 10.7 1.7 9.5 1.3 13.2 2.4 8.7
Truck 3 19,059 63.3 40,500 64.1 7,329 31.9 209 7.9 3.9 10.9 4.6 9 3.8 8.2
For-hire truck 13,392 44.4 23,868 37.8 5,427 23.6 303 7 3.2 7.8 4.3 9.8 3.5 9
Private truck 5,667 18.8 16,632 26.3 1,902 8.3 100 14.2 1.9 20.6 3.4 17.5 1.2 12.7
Rail 7,292 24.2 15,598 24.7 12,722 55.3 1,025 22.7 2.9 19.3 2.7 17.3 3.7 5.1
Water S S 3,552 5.6 1,478 6.4 328 S S 47.5 4.3 50 3.2 29.6
Shallow draft S S 3,549 5.6 1,472 6.4 227 S S 41.3 6 44.5 4.2 35.6
Deep draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (includes truck and air) 25 0.1 1 - S S 1,430 30.7 - 48 - S S 17.5
Pipeline 4 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 1,719 5.7 S S 1,327 5.8 1,175 34.9 1.7 S S 46.9 2.4 7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 261 0.9 6 - 5 - 1,172 30.4 0.4 33.6 - 37.7 - 11.1
Truck and rail 862 2.9 710 1.1 665 2.9 1,245 37 0.9 38.6 0.3 42.5 1.1 15.9
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 250 S S S S S S 17
Other and unknown modes 35 0.1 S S S S 223 23.4 - S S S S 34.9

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 Ton-miles estimates are based on estimated distances traveled along a modeled transportation network.
2 Coefficient of Variation.
3 "Truck" as a single mode includes shipments that were made by only private truck, only for-hire truck, or a combination of private and for-hire truck.
4 Estimates for pipeline exclude shipments of crude petroleum.

NOTES: Rows are not shown if all cells for that particular row have no value. For example, certain Haz Class by mode rows are not shown in this table becuse there are no data for those rows. 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/.

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.