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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 35,191 100 94,149 100 23,565 100 298 10.2 - 15.5 - 10.6 - 12.6
Less than 50 lbs 1,049 3.0 25 - 10 - 487 17.5 0.6 22.8 - 14.6 - 15.4
50 - 99 lbs 307 0.9 29 - 7 - 243 14.9 0.2 29.7 - 18.9 - 37.6
100 - 499 lbs 1,259 3.6 194 0.2 42 0.2 214 17.9 1.0 22.8 0.1 18.9 - 23.9
500 - 749 lbs 343 1.0 76 0.1 16 0.1 208 12.9 0.2 14.3 - 6.3 - 24.1
750 - 999 lbs 405 1.2 90 0.1 21 0.1 234 16.3 0.3 18.8 - 16.0 - 28.3
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 6,157 17.5 2,758 2.9 482 2.0 194 7.6 1.8 24.3 0.6 7.4 0.2 18.7
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 15,899 45.2 39,697 42.2 8,683 36.8 218 10.1 2.1 13.1 2.2 6.1 2.2 10.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,871 11.0 27,662 29.4 3,455 14.7 123 23.6 1.9 16.8 1.8 21.4 1.7 9.8
More than 100,000 lbs 5,901 16.8 23,616 25.1 10,849 46.0 523 32.0 3.5 23.2 2.4 14.4 2.8 14.3

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 33,058 100 87,961 100 20,289 100 177 11.1 - 17.1 - 12.9 - 11.8
Less than 50 lbs 228 0.7 10 - 1 - 116 14.6 0.1 20.2 - 16.0 - 30.4
50 - 99 lbs 151 0.5 21 - 2 - 104 12.3 0.1 29.8 - 22.0 - 25.1
100 - 499 lbs 1,007 3.0 155 0.2 32 0.2 199 21.7 1.0 17.2 - 20.1 - 21.8
500 - 749 lbs 304 0.9 73 0.1 14 0.1 186 12.5 0.2 14.8 - 7.8 - 25.7
750 - 999 lbs 405 1.2 90 0.1 21 0.1 231 16.3 0.3 18.9 - 17.3 - 28.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 6,109 18.5 2,743 3.1 470 2.3 190 7.7 2.1 24.5 0.7 7.6 0.2 19.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 15,481 46.8 39,206 44.6 8,095 39.9 207 10.1 2.2 13.3 2.2 7.3 2.7 10.2
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,778 11.4 27,548 31.3 3,389 16.7 121 24.4 2.0 16.9 2.1 21.8 1.7 9.9
More than 100,000 lbs 5,595 16.9 18,115 20.6 8,265 40.7 560 34.1 3.8 31.5 2.6 18.7 3.0 15.2

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 27,345 100 70,557 100 12,022 100 166 8.4 - 14.5 - 11.0 - 11.9
Less than 50 lbs 216 0.8 10 - 1 - 99 17.2 0.1 20.5 - 16.2 - 31.5
50 - 99 lbs 148 0.5 20 - 2 - 94 12.1 0.1 29.5 - 24.2 - 28.9
100 - 499 lbs 976 3.6 154 0.2 31 0.3 193 22.5 1.0 17.2 0.1 20.3 0.1 22.2
500 - 749 lbs 304 1.1 73 0.1 14 0.1 186 12.5 0.2 14.8 - 7.8 - 25.7
750 - 999 lbs 402 1.5 90 0.1 21 0.2 231 16.3 0.3 18.9 - 17.4 - 28.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 5,911 21.6 2,736 3.9 467 3.9 189 7.9 2.2 24.6 0.9 7.6 0.3 19.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 15,248 55.8 39,004 55.3 7,949 66.1 204 10.2 1.5 13.3 2.3 8.0 2.7 10.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,768 13.8 27,380 38.8 3,343 27.8 120 24.6 2.3 17.1 2.0 22.4 2.9 10.2
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S 194 1.6 S S S S S 32.4 0.8 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 13,863 100 28,702 100 7,306 100 403 8.1 - 15.2 - 7.9 - 10.8
Less than 50 lbs 49 0.4 1 - 1 - 554 34.4 0.1 27.8 - 23.8 - 26.8
50 - 99 lbs 50 0.4 3 - 1 - 419 29.1 0.1 44.8 - 32.1 - 30.4
100 - 499 lbs 569 4.1 41 0.1 25 0.3 637 36.4 1.2 37.9 0.1 25.3 0.1 13.3
500 - 749 lbs 188 1.4 15 0.1 11 0.1 722 22.4 0.3 8.6 - 10.2 - 8.3
750 - 999 lbs 283 2.0 30 0.1 17 0.2 563 24.3 0.4 38.2 0.1 22.3 - 12.7
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 3,015 21.8 508 1.8 274 3.8 560 15.2 2.3 10.4 0.2 7.1 0.3 7.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 8,326 60.1 17,092 59.5 5,425 74.3 343 8.0 2.4 14.1 3.0 8.2 2.6 12.4
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 1,042 7.5 10,689 37.2 1,382 18.9 128 19.8 1.6 23.1 3.2 20.4 2.6 20.4
More than 100,000 lbs S S 323 1.1 170 2.3 529 S S 49.2 0.7 35.5 1.1 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 13,482 100 41,855 100 4,716 100 79 22.1 - 20.4 - 26.1 - 11.9
Less than 50 lbs 167 1.2 9 - 1 - 59 26.0 0.4 23.5 - 21.1 - 18.4
50 - 99 lbs 98 0.7 17 - 1 - 40 21.5 0.2 35.2 - 18.3 - 37.6
100 - 499 lbs 407 3.0 113 0.3 6 0.1 52 19.0 1.0 23.4 0.1 21.4 0.1 42.8
500 - 749 lbs 117 0.9 58 0.1 3 0.1 52 14.2 0.2 20.5 0.1 14.6 - 24.0
750 - 999 lbs 119 0.9 60 0.1 4 0.1 70 23.6 0.3 27.8 - 29.6 0.1 29.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 2,895 21.5 2,228 5.3 193 4.1 89 20.9 3.8 30.5 1.6 17.8 0.9 24.5
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 6,922 51.3 21,912 52.4 2,524 53.5 115 27.1 3.9 21.4 2.8 24.1 4.0 9.2
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 2,726 20.2 16,691 39.9 1,961 41.6 116 31.7 3.3 20.2 3.3 30.6 3.6 12.7
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S 23 0.5 S S S S S 45.6 0.5 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 2,872 100 13,122 100 8,173 100 623 29.5 - 26.2 - 18.5 - 12.6
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 333 S S S S S S 24.6
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S 202 1.5 S S 796 S S 34.4 0.8 S S 32.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 10 0.4 S S S S S 37.2 1.1 S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 2,617 91.1 12,745 97.1 7,978 97.6 631 30.4 3.6 27.3 2.8 19.3 1.6 11.6

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 55 100 1 100 2 100 1,570 34.7 - 31.1 - 33.1 - 11.3
Less than 50 lbs S S - 9.0 S S 1,599 S S 47.6 7.2 S S 20.2
50 - 99 lbs 2 3.2 S S S S 1,754 40.4 10.1 S S S S 15.6
100 - 499 lbs 30 54.0 1 52.4 1 47.8 1,423 42.2 11.2 29.6 10.1 28.4 10.1 5.0
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs S S S S S S 1,262 S S S S S S 21.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,474 S S S S S S 25.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Pipeline5

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 2,787 100 4,281 100 S S S 45.7 - 49.6 - S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 S S S S S
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs 2,607 93.5 4,280 100.0 S S S 34.7 2.9 37.1 - S S S

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 1,795 100 5,544 100 3,190 100 819 12.1 - 24.7 - 25.4 - 7.7
Less than 50 lbs 811 45.2 11 0.2 8 0.3 819 23.4 7.1 26.4 0.1 16.0 0.1 8.4
50 - 99 lbs 151 8.4 6 0.1 5 0.2 846 29.9 1.6 28.4 0.1 19.4 0.1 13.4
100 - 499 lbs 217 12.1 11 0.2 9 0.3 798 23.2 1.5 22.4 0.1 17.9 0.1 7.2
500 - 749 lbs 38 2.1 3 0.1 2 0.1 824 36.1 0.9 32.0 - 29.3 - 11.8
750 - 999 lbs S S - - - - S S S 44.5 - 41.1 - S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 7 0.4 2 - 3 0.1 S 17.1 0.5 44.2 0.1 31.4 0.3 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 358 19.9 356 6.4 522 16.4 1,482 38.5 6.7 24.9 3.6 25.3 5.2 5.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 74 1.3 63 2.0 840 S S 37.8 2.1 39.6 3.0 14.7
More than 100,000 lbs 205 11.4 5,082 91.7 2,577 80.8 444 18.5 2.6 27.4 4.1 32.6 5.7 31.5

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 1,218 100 30 100 25 100 820 19.9 - 21.4 - 15.6 - 7.7
Less than 50 lbs 811 66.6 11 34.6 8 33.8 819 23.4 4.6 26.4 2.6 16.0 2.2 8.4
50 - 99 lbs 151 12.4 6 19.4 5 20.2 845 29.9 2.6 28.4 1.6 19.4 1.6 13.4
100 - 499 lbs 217 17.8 11 36.4 9 36.3 795 23.2 2.2 22.5 2.6 17.9 2.2 7.2
500 - 749 lbs 38 3.1 3 9.1 2 9.0 820 35.4 1.5 30.7 3.4 28.1 2.8 11.7
750 - 999 lbs S S - 0.5 S S 1,090 S S 44.0 1.4 S S 23.4
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 510 100 5,486 100 3,127 100 749 26.8 - 25.0 - 26.0 - 18.3
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 3 0.6 2 - S S S 24.8 2.6 26.1 0.3 S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 295 57.9 329 6.0 485 15.5 1,480 47.0 8.0 24.3 3.7 24.2 4.9 6.1
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S 74 1.4 63 2.0 840 S S 37.8 2.1 39.6 3.0 14.7
More than 100,000 lbs 205 40.1 5,082 92.6 2,577 82.4 444 18.5 8.1 27.4 4.0 32.6 5.5 31.5

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 S S S S S S 2,097 S S S S S S 34.5
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
100 - 499 lbs - 0.4 - 0.1 - 0.1 2,954 48.5 1.6 4.0 1.2 49.8 1.5 46.5
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 4 5.9 - 1.1 S S S 24.0 17.8 30.3 19.0 S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,516 S S S S S S 11.3
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 337 100 644 100 86 100 S 21.1 - 48.3 - 49.4 - S
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S 17 S S S S S S 46.8
50 - 99 lbs 4 1.3 S S S S S 38.4 1.2 S S S S S
100 - 499 lbs 35 10.4 S S S S S 46.0 6.0 S S S S S
500 - 749 lbs - 0.1 S S - - S 28.3 0.4 S S 21.2 0.1 S
750 - 999 lbs S S - - S S S S S 48.9 0.1 S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 41 12.3 13 2.0 9 10.5 748 20.1 8.4 28.6 12.3 28.7 15.3 22.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 86 25.4 S S 3 3.4 S 25.5 14.9 S S 37.7 8.7 S
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.