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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 82,135 100 86,379 100 18,232 100 610 5.7 - 13.2 - 6.8 - 13.5
Less than 50 lbs 5,284 6.4 216 0.3 138 0.8 727 16.6 1.4 14.7 0.1 25.2 0.2 13.3
50 - 99 lbs 1,808 2.2 92 0.1 28 0.2 300 26.4 0.4 13.4 - 22.4 - 15.0
100 - 499 lbs 5,435 6.6 699 0.8 160 0.9 244 12.8 0.7 11.1 0.2 19.2 0.2 18.4
500 - 749 lbs 1,822 2.2 423 0.5 87 0.5 206 13.4 0.3 14.2 0.1 17.8 0.1 15.6
750 - 999 lbs 1,154 1.4 300 0.3 58 0.3 192 11.0 0.2 11.8 0.1 10.8 - 10.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 17,341 21.1 4,609 5.3 1,112 6.1 218 11.0 1.9 10.9 0.8 10.9 0.8 10.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 42,005 51.1 54,129 62.7 11,020 60.4 224 8.7 2.3 11.3 2.5 7.8 2.8 9.1
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,216 3.9 19,130 22.1 1,773 9.7 91 13.8 0.5 34.0 3.3 23.4 1.5 12.2
More than 100,000 lbs 4,069 5.0 6,780 7.8 3,857 21.2 620 19.0 1.2 10.8 1.3 14.9 3.3 6.3

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 73,976 100 84,041 100 16,535 100 485 5.7 - 13.6 - 7.0 - 16.1
Less than 50 lbs 1,766 2.4 76 0.1 35 0.2 741 26.1 0.9 17.2 - 29.2 0.1 17.2
50 - 99 lbs 780 1.1 68 0.1 13 0.1 190 17.0 0.2 12.4 - 28.9 - 22.7
100 - 499 lbs 4,499 6.1 647 0.8 137 0.8 221 12.4 0.6 12.2 0.2 20.4 0.2 20.5
500 - 749 lbs 1,725 2.3 409 0.5 79 0.5 195 14.0 0.3 15.3 0.1 19.8 0.1 14.6
750 - 999 lbs 1,091 1.5 292 0.3 53 0.3 181 10.7 0.2 12.5 0.1 11.8 - 9.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 16,806 22.7 4,465 5.3 1,073 6.5 216 10.9 1.9 11.4 0.8 11.7 0.8 10.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 41,406 56.0 53,724 63.9 10,768 65.1 220 8.6 2.3 11.3 2.5 7.7 1.9 9.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,098 4.2 19,032 22.6 1,736 10.5 89 13.8 0.6 34.1 3.3 24.2 1.6 12.3
More than 100,000 lbs 2,804 3.8 5,329 6.3 2,640 16.0 560 14.2 0.7 9.0 1.0 10.4 2.1 6.6

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 71,174 100 80,043 100 13,929 100 472 5.8 - 14.2 - 7.7 - 17.1
Less than 50 lbs 1,441 2.0 71 0.1 32 0.2 735 31.1 0.9 19.2 - 33.7 0.1 18.9
50 - 99 lbs 723 1.0 67 0.1 12 0.1 181 16.7 0.2 12.3 - 30.3 - 23.7
100 - 499 lbs 4,348 6.1 645 0.8 133 1.0 214 11.4 0.6 12.2 0.2 20.0 0.2 19.3
500 - 749 lbs 1,722 2.4 408 0.5 79 0.6 195 14.1 0.3 15.3 0.1 19.9 0.1 14.6
750 - 999 lbs 1,078 1.5 292 0.4 52 0.4 179 10.6 0.2 12.6 0.1 12.0 - 8.9
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 16,752 23.5 4,458 5.6 1,066 7.7 215 10.9 1.9 11.4 0.9 11.7 0.9 10.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 41,177 57.9 53,576 66.9 10,643 76.4 219 8.5 2.4 11.4 2.6 7.7 1.4 8.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 3,067 4.3 18,942 23.7 1,687 12.1 88 13.9 0.6 34.3 3.5 25.0 1.9 12.6
More than 100,000 lbs 866 1.2 1,585 2.0 224 1.6 167 31.9 0.5 28.5 0.7 32.4 0.7 28.2

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 47,095 100 39,079 100 9,663 100 1,106 9.4 - 7.6 - 6.7 - 17.2
Less than 50 lbs 354 0.8 13 - 17 0.2 1,965 27.9 0.2 31.3 - 34.1 0.1 17.0
50 - 99 lbs 280 0.6 12 - 9 0.1 741 40.8 0.2 37.7 - 38.4 - 9.2
100 - 499 lbs 2,222 4.7 134 0.3 101 1.0 749 19.6 0.7 24.5 0.2 27.6 0.4 6.0
500 - 749 lbs 839 1.8 77 0.2 53 0.6 702 26.3 0.4 30.3 0.1 31.0 0.2 13.9
750 - 999 lbs 429 0.9 40 0.1 31 0.3 777 10.5 0.1 11.5 - 16.2 0.1 10.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 9,512 20.2 1,397 3.6 739 7.6 539 22.0 2.6 14.0 0.6 15.3 1.0 8.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 30,596 65.0 28,859 73.8 7,714 79.8 303 10.0 2.3 9.5 2.3 7.7 1.6 9.7
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 2,068 4.4 7,694 19.7 809 8.4 102 16.5 1.1 13.4 2.2 13.8 1.2 9.3
More than 100,000 lbs 795 1.7 852 2.2 190 2.0 218 34.5 1.0 30.3 0.9 39.8 0.9 44.8

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 24,079 100 40,964 100 4,266 100 274 11.6 - 24.4 - 19.8 - 21.8
Less than 50 lbs 1,087 4.5 59 0.1 15 0.3 443 41.7 2.2 22.0 0.1 42.7 0.4 21.9
50 - 99 lbs 442 1.8 54 0.1 3 0.1 57 14.6 0.3 14.3 - 13.0 - 19.2
100 - 499 lbs 2,126 8.8 510 1.2 33 0.8 63 10.0 0.9 15.6 0.5 12.7 0.3 12.1
500 - 749 lbs 883 3.7 332 0.8 26 0.6 78 16.9 0.6 19.7 0.5 19.7 0.4 11.0
750 - 999 lbs 649 2.7 251 0.6 21 0.5 83 15.0 0.3 15.0 0.2 19.6 0.2 8.5
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 7,240 30.1 3,061 7.5 328 7.7 97 14.7 3.9 15.0 2.8 13.9 2.8 12.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 10,582 43.9 24,717 60.3 2,929 68.7 124 24.1 5.0 18.6 3.3 18.6 3.2 17.7
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 999 4.2 S S 878 20.6 78 16.2 0.7 S S 44.9 4.1 17.8
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S 34 0.8 60 S S S S 44.3 0.5 31.6

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 2,204 100 3,986 100 2,592 100 682 9.4 - 10.2 - 10.3 - 11.8
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 S S S 44.6 - S
500 - 749 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 33 1.5 5 0.1 3 0.1 565 45.4 3.8 38.2 0.3 48.0 0.2 46.1
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 198 9.0 147 3.7 S S 866 38.6 3.4 33.5 2.0 S S 39.4
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 31 1.4 90 2.3 49 1.9 550 26.4 0.4 34.4 0.6 21.9 0.5 22.1
More than 100,000 lbs 1,938 87.9 3,744 93.9 2,416 93.2 671 8.4 2.7 10.6 1.5 10.1 2.2 9.4

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 597 100 12 100 14 100 849 40.1 - 25.9 - 28.3 - 38.4
Less than 50 lbs 325 54.3 5 37.4 4 26.7 834 44.7 8.8 36.6 8.4 35.2 7.1 13.1
50 - 99 lbs S S S S 1 6.5 S S S S S 40.1 7.8 S
100 - 499 lbs 147 24.6 3 20.7 S S 1,311 49.4 5.7 46.7 7.3 S S 21.4
500 - 749 lbs 3 0.5 - 0.5 - 0.5 1,215 47.7 7.0 38.6 1.9 20.6 1.8 38.7
750 - 999 lbs 13 2.2 1 6.0 1 4.9 936 29.2 6.4 35.4 3.9 34.3 2.9 30.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 22 3.7 S S S S 1,949 34.6 10.3 S S S S 22.1
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 694 S S S S S S 6.1
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 6,696 100 1,794 100 1,510 100 870 16.9 - 24.3 - 24.1 - 11.3
Less than 50 lbs 3,119 46.6 116 6.5 101 6.7 877 17.6 3.2 19.1 1.9 32.3 3.4 11.6
50 - 99 lbs 988 14.8 19 1.0 14 0.9 748 37.8 3.5 22.0 1.2 20.5 0.9 7.6
100 - 499 lbs 801 12.0 33 1.9 19 1.2 537 31.8 3.2 20.0 1.8 17.4 1.1 16.8
500 - 749 lbs 59 0.9 8 0.4 S S 631 47.8 0.3 46.8 0.2 S S 20.2
750 - 999 lbs S S 1 0.1 1 0.1 696 S S 41.7 0.1 49.7 0.1 37.9
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 31 0.5 7 0.4 S S S 38.2 0.2 42.6 0.2 S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 329 4.9 183 10.2 135 8.9 882 47.3 1.3 35.7 7.1 43.4 7.0 33.8
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 109 1.6 42 2.3 25 1.6 S 35.6 1.1 33.4 3.8 34.3 3.5 S
More than 100,000 lbs 1,242 18.5 1,385 77.2 1,200 79.4 881 39.4 5.4 32.3 11.0 29.7 10.9 13.9

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 4,989 100 178 100 140 100 870 17.3 - 15.1 - 26.7 - 11.4
Less than 50 lbs 3,119 62.5 116 65.5 101 72.2 877 17.6 6.2 19.1 5.5 32.3 6.3 11.6
50 - 99 lbs 988 19.8 19 10.5 14 10.0 748 37.8 3.8 22.1 2.5 20.5 2.9 7.7
100 - 499 lbs 801 16.1 33 18.8 19 13.4 537 31.8 3.1 20.0 3.5 17.4 3.2 16.8
500 - 749 lbs 59 1.2 8 4.4 S S 631 47.8 0.4 46.8 1.2 S S 20.2
750 - 999 lbs S S 1 0.7 1 0.6 696 S S 41.7 0.7 49.7 0.8 37.9
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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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 1,451 100 1,529 100 1,287 100 801 35.8 - 28.1 - 27.6 - 11.2
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 1 - 747 S S S S 41.3 0.3 10.7
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 120 8.2 131 8.6 83 6.4 S 34.9 18.2 33.8 15.1 30.7 15.7 S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 97 6.7 35 2.3 16 1.2 S 38.8 6.8 40.8 6.0 45.2 3.4 S
More than 100,000 lbs 1,232 84.9 1,363 89.1 1,189 92.3 888 39.8 12.8 33.0 11.6 30.1 11.5 13.7

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 65 100 S S 1,238 S S 47.3 - S S 32.5
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
100 - 499 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
500 - 749 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
750 - 999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 24 9.8 6 8.8 S S S 48.4 16.8 48.5 16.5 S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S 1,122 S S S S S S 16.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rail 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 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

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 1,464 100 543 100 186 100 S 28.3 - 18.4 - 16.9 - S
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50 - 99 lbs 40 2.7 6 1.1 - 0.2 S 34.6 3.0 28.8 3.9 41.5 2.9 S
100 - 499 lbs 135 9.2 18 3.3 4 2.2 193 46.8 3.1 21.3 1.4 48.9 0.7 29.3
500 - 749 lbs 38 2.6 7 1.2 S S 356 41.7 3.7 41.0 0.8 S S 42.3
750 - 999 lbs 47 3.2 7 1.2 S S 578 33.7 3.1 25.1 0.5 S S 29.0
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 504 34.4 137 25.3 28 15.1 238 34.3 6.2 39.1 7.1 29.7 6.3 26.7
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 270 18.4 222 40.9 117 62.8 494 38.5 7.8 25.1 9.3 20.6 8.8 12.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S 242 S S S S S S 37.6
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.