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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 55,985 100 44,138 100 4,978 100 537 10.7 - 19.1 - 12.4 - 12.7
Less than 50 lbs 8,102 14.5 99 0.2 43 0.9 656 12.1 1.5 13.4 0.1 18.5 0.2 13.6
50 - 99 lbs 1,694 3.0 65 0.1 31 0.6 477 18.7 0.6 14.2 0.1 27.0 0.2 20.2
100 - 499 lbs 5,101 9.1 343 0.8 86 1.7 243 15.1 1.4 11.0 0.3 18.4 0.4 15.8
500 - 749 lbs 1,493 2.7 158 0.4 34 0.7 217 28.0 0.6 10.6 0.1 28.8 0.2 26.1
750 - 999 lbs 1,845 3.3 182 0.4 53 1.1 290 42.4 1.7 16.4 0.2 40.6 0.5 25.8
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 15,328 27.4 2,855 6.5 617 12.4 265 22.4 4.2 12.6 1.7 15.7 2.5 13.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 18,838 33.6 32,821 74.4 3,185 64.0 107 16.6 3.0 25.0 4.8 14.1 3.3 19.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,148 5.6 6,948 15.7 720 14.5 102 41.6 2.1 29.6 4.1 35.8 3.5 13.2
More than 100,000 lbs 436 0.8 668 1.5 209 4.2 324 30.7 0.3 31.0 0.3 48.2 1.3 38.6

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 47,685 100 42,392 100 4,141 100 175 11.7 - 19.2 - 9.8 - 12.0
Less than 50 lbs 2,971 6.2 46 0.1 7 0.2 165 22.8 1.5 18.0 - 21.7 - 32.2
50 - 99 lbs 878 1.8 39 0.1 7 0.2 159 24.1 0.6 18.9 - 32.0 0.1 18.2
100 - 499 lbs 4,024 8.4 298 0.7 59 1.4 182 16.9 1.4 12.3 0.2 21.0 0.3 19.6
500 - 749 lbs 1,448 3.0 155 0.4 33 0.8 214 29.3 0.8 10.5 0.1 29.7 0.2 27.1
750 - 999 lbs 1,835 3.8 180 0.4 53 1.3 293 42.4 2.1 16.6 0.2 40.9 0.5 25.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 15,131 31.7 2,805 6.6 609 14.7 267 22.9 4.6 12.7 1.7 16.0 2.5 13.0
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 18,194 38.2 32,157 75.9 2,873 69.4 99 17.2 3.3 24.9 4.7 11.1 2.7 18.5
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,028 6.3 6,393 15.1 445 10.8 69 40.7 2.3 27.8 4.0 26.7 2.1 18.0
More than 100,000 lbs 177 0.4 321 0.8 55 1.3 S 48.4 0.3 48.7 0.3 44.1 0.4 S

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 43,700 100 41,395 100 4,011 100 152 10.4 - 19.7 - 9.3 - 10.5
Less than 50 lbs 2,644 6.0 44 0.1 5 0.1 117 27.3 1.7 19.0 - 24.9 - 12.5
50 - 99 lbs 783 1.8 38 0.1 6 0.1 147 26.5 0.6 18.1 - 33.0 0.1 20.0
100 - 499 lbs 3,779 8.6 296 0.7 58 1.4 178 17.5 1.4 12.3 0.2 20.9 0.3 19.6
500 - 749 lbs 1,236 2.8 153 0.4 31 0.8 200 32.7 0.7 10.3 0.1 32.3 0.2 29.7
750 - 999 lbs 1,769 4.0 178 0.4 51 1.3 284 44.6 2.2 16.8 0.2 41.1 0.5 26.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 12,186 27.9 2,765 6.7 576 14.4 250 14.1 3.9 12.6 1.7 15.4 2.6 13.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 18,118 41.5 31,282 75.6 2,822 70.4 100 17.2 3.2 25.9 4.9 11.5 3.1 18.1
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,028 6.9 6,393 15.4 445 11.1 69 40.7 2.4 27.8 4.2 26.7 2.3 18.0
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S 16 0.4 S S S S S 44.3 0.2 S

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 31,619 100 17,896 100 2,868 100 332 17.1 - 24.0 - 8.9 - 24.7
Less than 50 lbs 1,841 5.8 19 0.1 4 0.1 S 39.3 2.3 39.1 - 29.2 - S
50 - 99 lbs 398 1.3 6 - 4 0.1 623 34.5 0.6 34.8 - 48.2 0.1 23.3
100 - 499 lbs 2,708 8.6 61 0.3 43 1.5 704 26.5 2.5 25.7 0.2 27.4 0.5 9.9
500 - 749 lbs S S 29 0.2 24 0.8 822 S S 25.1 0.1 39.4 0.2 13.4
750 - 999 lbs S S 50 0.3 S S 829 S S 41.0 0.2 S S 17.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 8,096 25.6 665 3.7 435 15.2 750 22.9 4.5 15.0 1.5 18.8 2.7 7.5
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 14,542 46.0 13,361 74.7 2,020 70.4 179 22.7 3.9 30.0 5.8 9.4 3.4 25.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 3,618 20.2 284 9.9 74 S S 37.8 5.5 29.9 2.0 26.9
More than 100,000 lbs S S 87 0.5 S S S S S 44.0 1.4 S S S

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 12,082 100 23,500 100 1,143 100 61 9.3 - 30.0 - 23.0 - 9.0
Less than 50 lbs 803 6.6 25 0.1 2 0.1 59 26.6 1.5 18.3 - 34.2 - 14.1
50 - 99 lbs 384 3.2 32 0.1 2 0.2 65 35.2 1.0 20.0 - 27.5 0.1 13.9
100 - 499 lbs 1,071 8.9 234 1.0 15 1.3 62 15.7 1.1 15.7 0.3 21.2 0.3 10.2
500 - 749 lbs 446 3.7 124 0.5 7 0.6 55 13.7 0.6 11.1 0.1 15.7 0.2 14.2
750 - 999 lbs S S 128 0.5 10 0.9 77 S S 20.1 0.2 24.6 0.3 9.7
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 4,090 33.9 2,100 8.9 142 12.4 70 15.0 4.0 15.8 2.0 16.8 2.8 6.5
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 3,576 29.6 17,921 76.3 802 70.2 45 14.2 2.7 40.1 5.2 30.3 4.9 20.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 954 7.9 2,774 11.8 161 14.1 61 35.3 3.0 23.5 3.9 48.2 4.3 17.3
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

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 96 100 973 100 89 100 S 39.4 - 39.9 - 47.1 - S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 1 1.3 24 2.4 - 0.1 5 30.8 0.1 29.8 0.9 24.6 0.3 10.4
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 76 79.1 875 90.0 S S S 39.6 8.0 23.0 3.9 S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 516 S S S S S S 20.0

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 S S S S S S 1,248 S S S S S S 8.3
Less than 50 lbs 327 8.4 S S S S 1,277 35.6 8.4 S S S S 9.5
50 - 99 lbs S S S S S S 799 S S S S S S 30.4
100 - 499 lbs 244 6.3 2 7.2 1 2.7 645 26.8 4.7 36.7 5.3 34.5 6.0 21.5
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs 66 1.7 S S S S 946 48.7 16.8 S S S S 16.7
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 2,083 S S S S S S 28.4
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 7,426 100 1,330 100 755 100 939 14.1 - 28.3 - 30.8 - 7.3
Less than 50 lbs 4,918 66.2 45 3.4 36 4.8 938 14.6 4.0 14.4 4.5 21.1 3.3 7.9
50 - 99 lbs 783 10.5 23 1.7 25 3.3 1,097 26.6 1.9 26.9 1.8 32.7 2.6 13.6
100 - 499 lbs 1,001 13.5 35 2.6 26 3.5 730 32.0 2.7 25.3 4.2 27.5 3.1 16.0
500 - 749 lbs 44 0.6 2 0.2 1 0.1 S 48.4 0.3 46.6 0.2 41.6 0.2 S
750 - 999 lbs 2 - - - - - S 43.6 0.1 49.0 0.1 25.0 0.1 S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 449 6.0 S S S S S 39.9 2.3 S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 40 0.5 436 32.8 222 29.4 504 13.2 0.8 34.9 19.0 34.0 18.6 25.6
More than 100,000 lbs 172 2.3 273 20.5 S S 542 36.5 2.1 36.4 11.2 S S 33.5

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 6,739 100 103 100 88 100 941 15.5 - 16.2 - 19.7 - 7.4
Less than 50 lbs 4,917 73.0 45 43.1 36 41.1 938 14.6 4.0 14.5 5.2 21.1 7.2 7.9
50 - 99 lbs 782 11.6 23 21.8 25 28.1 1,102 26.7 1.8 27.6 3.5 32.7 5.6 13.4
100 - 499 lbs 996 14.8 34 33.1 26 29.7 740 32.3 2.8 26.0 3.5 27.8 3.9 15.8
500 - 749 lbs 42 0.6 2 1.8 1 1.0 S 49.7 0.4 42.2 1.8 40.7 1.0 S
750 - 999 lbs S S - 0.2 - 0.1 561 S S 49.9 0.5 36.2 0.5 25.7
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 647 100 1,209 100 641 100 S 30.8 - 31.8 - 37.5 - S
Less than 50 lbs - 0.1 S S S S 45 49.7 0.9 S S S S 44.8
50 - 99 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
100 - 499 lbs S S S S - - S S S S S 10.0 0.2 S
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 4 0.4 S S S S S 48.2 11.1 S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 413 63.9 S S S S S 44.1 12.7 S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 428 35.4 S S S S S 36.8 19.5 S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 172 26.6 273 22.6 S S 542 36.5 17.8 36.4 18.9 S S 33.5

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 40 100 S S S S 1,570 32.3 - S S S S 31.8
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S 296 S S S S S S -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 399 S S S S S S 24.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 36 89.4 10 57.0 S S 2,403 35.0 7.7 30.6 15.6 S S 35.1
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
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 874 100 416 100 S S S 36.5 - 46.8 - S S S
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs S S S S - 0.1 S S S S S 45.8 0.4 S
100 - 499 lbs S S S S 1 0.6 S S S S S 33.9 4.2 S
500 - 749 lbs S S 1 0.2 S S 115 S S 39.8 0.2 S S 31.3
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 180 20.6 45 10.9 3 4.2 S 48.8 4.9 42.5 10.8 30.4 8.9 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 195 22.3 S S 15 18.5 S 35.9 10.8 S S 47.6 13.3 S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S 387 S S S S S S 41.9
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S S S S 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.