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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 4. Shipment Characteristics by Mode of Transportation and Shipment Size for Metropolitan Area of Origin: 2007

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Table 4. Shipment Characteristics by Mode of Transportation and Shipment Size 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 Modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 99,709 100 88,876 100 20,926 100 521 7.7 - 10.1 - 20.0 - 14.9
Less than 50 lbs 11,442 11.5 209 0.2 80 0.4 650 18.3 2.1 21.7 0.1 33.6 0.1 15.0
50 - 99 lbs 4,594 4.6 158 0.2 35 0.2 217 19.0 0.8 22.7 - 32.4 - 25.7
100 - 499 lbs 9,408 9.4 661 0.7 142 0.7 223 16.4 1.2 23.6 0.2 19.3 0.1 15.1
500 - 749 lbs 2,810 2.8 373 0.4 80 0.4 212 21.1 0.4 30.6 0.2 21.2 0.1 23.3
750 - 999 lbs S S 261 0.3 62 0.3 235 S S 20.0 0.1 30.7 0.1 36.7
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 18,299 18.4 4,905 5.5 953 4.6 183 13.3 1.4 17.3 1.4 16.9 1.0 13.4
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 36,795 36.9 47,857 53.8 8,542 40.8 199 6.7 2.3 15.1 5.7 9.8 7.1 11.7
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 4,311 4.3 8,156 9.2 580 2.8 69 22.8 0.8 24.5 3.0 13.5 0.7 27.6
More than 100,000 lbs 7,845 7.9 26,296 29.6 10,452 49.9 557 24.3 1.8 35.6 7.2 43.6 8.4 8.7

Single modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 84,601 100 85,005 100 16,314 100 135 8.9 - 10.1 - 8.8 - 20.6
Less than 50 lbs 2,749 3.2 117 0.1 11 0.1 107 18.7 0.7 26.4 - 22.4 - 37.3
50 - 99 lbs 3,466 4.1 118 0.1 14 0.1 110 23.2 1.0 27.0 - 28.8 - 35.1
100 - 499 lbs 7,329 8.7 585 0.7 91 0.6 150 17.9 1.1 24.6 0.2 16.9 0.1 14.6
500 - 749 lbs 2,467 2.9 364 0.4 75 0.5 204 19.3 0.4 31.1 0.2 20.5 0.1 25.3
750 - 999 lbs S S 250 0.3 41 0.2 162 S S 20.7 0.1 13.3 - 17.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 17,852 21.1 4,758 5.6 880 5.4 175 12.7 1.9 17.5 1.5 15.8 0.8 13.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 36,288 42.9 47,260 55.6 8,031 49.2 189 6.9 2.3 15.5 5.5 10.5 6.0 11.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 4,236 5.0 8,038 9.5 553 3.4 67 23.0 0.8 24.5 3.2 13.2 0.6 28.4
More than 100,000 lbs 6,203 7.3 23,516 27.7 6,619 40.6 507 24.4 1.3 35.2 6.9 26.0 6.8 7.8

Truck4

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 77,971 100 62,293 100 10,246 100 130 8.7 - 12.1 - 10.8 - 20.6
Less than 50 lbs 2,506 3.2 116 0.2 10 0.1 98 19.6 0.8 26.8 0.1 22.0 - 38.0
50 - 99 lbs 3,316 4.3 118 0.2 13 0.1 108 23.3 1.0 27.1 0.1 28.1 0.1 35.7
100 - 499 lbs 7,297 9.4 584 0.9 90 0.9 146 18.0 1.1 24.6 0.2 17.3 0.1 14.5
500 - 749 lbs 2,457 3.2 364 0.6 75 0.7 204 19.5 0.4 31.1 0.2 20.5 0.1 25.3
750 - 999 lbs S S 248 0.4 39 0.4 159 S S 20.2 0.1 12.7 - 18.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 17,725 22.7 4,752 7.6 875 8.5 174 12.4 1.8 17.6 1.5 15.9 1.0 14.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 35,927 46.1 47,036 75.5 7,943 77.5 188 6.7 2.3 15.6 3.2 10.8 3.3 11.1
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,997 5.1 7,701 12.4 453 4.4 58 25.2 1.0 25.8 3.3 16.0 0.6 21.9
More than 100,000 lbs 773 1.0 1,375 2.2 S S 785 34.5 0.5 37.4 1.1 S S 21.9

For-hire truck

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 48,003 100 35,159 100 8,717 100 379 10.9 - 18.7 - 12.4 - 13.0
Less than 50 lbs 1,149 2.4 13 - 6 0.1 519 29.3 0.6 26.8 - 37.2 - 16.9
50 - 99 lbs 2,197 4.6 21 0.1 9 0.1 421 34.4 1.3 23.1 - 42.1 0.1 16.4
100 - 499 lbs 4,707 9.8 198 0.6 65 0.7 327 20.6 1.3 20.7 0.2 13.5 0.2 14.3
500 - 749 lbs 1,084 2.3 105 0.3 50 0.6 480 10.1 0.4 16.3 0.1 13.7 0.2 22.7
750 - 999 lbs S S 79 0.2 25 0.3 315 S S 20.4 0.1 16.0 0.1 14.8
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 8,405 17.5 1,409 4.0 637 7.3 436 13.6 1.9 16.9 0.9 17.7 1.0 7.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 25,581 53.3 30,433 86.6 6,930 79.5 267 10.0 3.7 21.6 2.4 11.8 3.8 13.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 1,043 2.2 2,119 6.0 263 3.0 117 22.9 0.4 25.3 1.7 18.8 0.5 26.2
More than 100,000 lbs 681 1.4 S S S S 920 38.8 0.9 S S S S 18.1

Private truck

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 29,968 100 27,133 100 1,529 100 56 11.3 - 14.3 - 15.3 - 19.7
Less than 50 lbs 1,357 4.5 102 0.4 4 0.2 50 36.5 1.8 31.6 0.3 30.6 0.1 27.0
50 - 99 lbs 1,119 3.7 97 0.4 4 0.3 43 44.1 1.7 34.8 0.3 35.9 0.1 16.0
100 - 499 lbs 2,590 8.6 385 1.4 25 1.6 64 36.7 1.7 29.6 0.3 34.4 0.3 18.0
500 - 749 lbs 1,373 4.6 259 1.0 25 1.6 96 29.0 0.9 38.9 0.3 48.0 0.7 32.8
750 - 999 lbs 816 2.7 169 0.6 14 0.9 85 13.7 0.5 22.8 0.1 24.4 0.2 34.1
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 9,320 31.1 3,342 12.3 239 15.6 69 21.5 4.1 20.0 2.1 17.2 2.5 11.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 10,347 34.5 16,603 61.2 1,013 66.2 64 12.4 2.8 19.7 4.5 19.8 3.9 7.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 2,954 9.9 5,582 20.6 191 12.5 35 27.4 3.0 26.9 5.7 23.0 3.5 25.0
More than 100,000 lbs S S 593 2.2 15 1.0 80 S S 26.4 1.4 26.6 0.6 34.7

Rail

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 6,036 100 22,705 100 6,060 100 446 23.2 - 36.6 - 28.1 - 3.7
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S 4 - S S S S S 42.4 0.1 S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S 223 1.0 S S S S S 47.4 0.6 S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 239 4.0 337 1.5 100 1.6 309 49.4 3.7 43.2 1.1 39.8 1.2 26.6
More than 100,000 lbs 5,430 90.0 22,141 97.5 5,872 96.9 473 27.4 8.1 37.4 1.3 28.3 1.3 4.1

Air (incl truck and air)

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 594 100 8 100 8 100 942 18.7 - 37.8 - 35.9 - 9.7
Less than 50 lbs 243 40.9 1 13.1 1 10.0 884 22.8 7.8 33.1 6.5 33.6 5.5 11.9
50 - 99 lbs 150 25.3 - 3.8 - 3.3 881 45.6 8.3 33.7 3.7 33.1 2.4 13.0
100 - 499 lbs 32 5.4 1 10.5 2 20.5 2,119 47.3 5.3 40.5 9.1 42.0 9.7 20.3
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S 611 S S S S S S 45.1
750 - 999 lbs 38 6.4 S S S S 645 35.1 9.1 S S S S 18.2
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S 3 34.4 2 30.0 872 S S 37.4 9.3 46.7 8.8 23.5
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 2,047 S S S S S S 6.2
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Multiple modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 13,571 100 S S S S 864 19.5 - S S S S 10.4
Less than 50 lbs 8,305 61.2 89 2.7 69 1.5 877 22.6 4.3 28.5 2.1 37.9 1.6 10.6
50 - 99 lbs 1,097 8.1 37 1.1 22 0.5 578 15.1 1.8 23.1 1.2 35.9 0.6 10.8
100 - 499 lbs 1,649 12.2 69 2.1 48 1.1 705 18.8 3.1 22.6 2.2 28.5 1.6 10.9
500 - 749 lbs 321 2.4 7 0.2 4 0.1 557 38.8 1.0 35.1 0.3 43.6 0.2 20.8
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S 2,986 S S S S S S 37.9
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S 4 0.1 8 0.2 S S S 48.4 0.4 46.8 1.4 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 339 2.5 271 8.3 421 9.5 1,471 29.1 0.8 47.7 8.8 39.9 10.7 21.7
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 23 0.2 S S S S 679 40.4 0.5 S S S S 9.7
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 967 S S S S S S 18.9

Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 11,340 100 206 100 145 100 863 18.3 - 22.0 - 28.6 - 10.4
Less than 50 lbs 8,300 73.2 89 43.1 69 47.3 877 22.7 4.7 28.6 3.3 37.9 4.1 10.6
50 - 99 lbs 1,097 9.7 37 18.1 22 15.0 578 15.1 2.0 23.1 2.7 35.9 2.9 10.8
100 - 499 lbs 1,529 13.5 68 33.1 48 32.9 707 19.5 2.7 23.0 2.2 28.8 2.8 10.9
500 - 749 lbs 315 2.8 7 3.3 3 2.1 425 38.8 1.1 31.3 0.6 25.2 0.8 30.0
750 - 999 lbs S S 5 2.4 4 2.7 809 S S 40.6 3.2 43.8 4.7 28.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Truck and rail

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 783 100 772 100 646 100 732 16.1 - 31.0 - 21.5 - 31.1
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs S S S S S S 398 S S S S S S 19.2
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 12 1.5 S S 3 0.4 S 20.9 3.6 S S 35.6 0.6 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 288 36.8 229 29.6 304 47.1 1,213 27.4 10.0 48.1 14.6 42.2 13.2 28.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 343 43.8 505 65.5 315 48.9 632 29.3 10.5 36.4 11.3 29.1 13.7 39.8

Truck and water

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total S S S S S S 4,790 S S S S S S 23.0
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 8,863 S S S S S S 37.6
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 2,915 S S S S S S 42.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 1,531 S S S S S S 10.5

Other multiple modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Other and unknown modes

Shipment Weight Value Tons Ton-miles2 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
CV3 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
Total 1,538 100 S S S S 537 41.2 - S S S S 24.9
Less than 50 lbs S S 4 0.6 S S 584 S S 31.4 4.6 S S 27.2
50 - 99 lbs 31 2.0 3 0.5 S S S 43.8 3.9 35.5 3.0 S S S
100 - 499 lbs S S 7 1.2 S S 281 S S 31.2 1.9 S S 29.4
500 - 749 lbs S S S S 1 0.4 S S S S S 34.9 2.7 S
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 408 26.5 143 24.2 S S S 46.4 8.0 48.4 7.7 S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 168 10.9 S S S S 305 43.6 11.3 S S S S 19.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 52 3.4 82 14.0 S S 36 28.6 11.6 42.4 13.9 S S 42.8
More than 100,000 lbs 24 1.6 S S S S S 6.2 4.5 S S S S S

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 Ton-miles estimates are based on estimated distances traveled along a modeled transportation network.
3 Coefficient of Variation.
4 ""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.
5 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 mode have no data. For example, since Denver-Aurora-Boulder by "Water" has no data for any shipment weight group, the entire mode of "Water" for that area was removed from this table. However, if a mode has at least one row of data for one of the shipment weight groups, then the entire mode is shown even though there may be rows absent of data within that mode. For example, Denver-Aurora-Boulder by "Other and unknown modes" has a row absent of data for the shipment size of "More than 100,000 lbs" but does have data for the other shipment weight groups under that mode so it will be shown in its entirety.

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.