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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 7. Shipment Characteristics by Commodity Group and Mode of Transportation for Metropolitan Area of Origin: 2007

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Table 7. Shipment Characteristics by Commodity Group and Mode of Transportation 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 Commodities5

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 82,135 100 86,379 100 18,232 100 610 5.7 - 13.2 - 6.8 - 13.5
Single modes 73,976 90.1 84,041 97.3 16,535 90.7 485 5.7 1.4 13.6 0.6 7 2 16.1
Truck6 71,174 86.7 80,043 92.7 13,929 76.4 472 5.8 1.5 14.2 1.1 7.7 3 17.1
For-hire truck 47,095 57.3 39,079 45.2 9,663 53 1,106 9.4 3.4 7.6 3.9 6.7 3.4 17.2
Private truck 24,079 29.3 40,964 47.4 4,266 23.4 274 11.6 2.8 24.4 4.8 19.8 3.3 21.8
Rail 2,204 2.7 3,986 4.6 2,592 14.2 682 9.4 0.3 10.2 0.6 10.3 1.3 11.8
Air (incl truck and air) 597 0.7 12 - 14 0.1 849 40.1 0.3 25.9 - 28.3 - 38.4
Multiple modes 6,696 8.2 1,794 2.1 1,510 8.3 870 16.9 1.2 24.3 0.5 24.1 1.9 11.3
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 4,989 6.1 178 0.2 140 0.8 870 17.3 0.8 15.1 - 26.7 0.2 11.4
Truck and rail 1,451 1.8 1,529 1.8 1,287 7.1 801 35.8 0.7 28.1 0.5 27.6 1.9 11.2
Truck and water S S 65 0.1 S S 1,238 S S 47.3 0.1 S S 32.5
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 1,464 1.8 543 0.6 186 1 S 28.3 0.6 18.4 0.1 16.9 0.2 S

SCTG2 01-05, Agriculture products and fish

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 4,597 100 4,328 100 1,520 100 936 46.2 - 25.4 - 45.1 - 21.3
Single modes 4,553 99.1 4,228 97.7 1,451 95.5 939 46.5 1.4 25.7 1.5 47.2 3 21.9
Truck6 4,410 95.9 4,079 94.2 1,264 83.2 949 46 1.9 25.7 1.6 43.3 4.3 22.1
For-hire truck S S 2,711 62.6 1,043 68.6 2,198 S S 26.7 6.8 45.7 6.4 23.5
Private truck 1,322 28.8 1,368 31.6 221 14.6 602 31 11.5 29.7 10.1 30.3 11.4 22.2
Rail S S 147 3.4 S S S S S 19.4 2.6 S S S
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 769 S S S S S S 20.3
Multiple modes 43 0.9 S S S S 933 18.3 2.9 S S S S 8.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 39 0.8 18 0.4 15 1 933 16.7 3.7 33.5 2.5 43.9 6 7.1
Truck and rail 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

SCTG2 06-09, Grains, alcohol, and tobacco products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 3,444 100 2,897 100 478 100 60 18.6 - 23.9 - 25.4 - 17.4
Single modes 3,438 99.8 2,888 99.7 478 99.9 59 18.7 0.1 24 0.3 25.5 0.1 16.6
Truck6 3,358 97.5 2,748 94.9 402 84 59 19.2 2 24.9 3.1 30 9 16.5
For-hire truck 1,001 29.1 778 26.9 248 51.7 392 29.6 6.4 19.3 7.1 29.4 9.6 16.1
Private truck 2,356 68.4 1,970 68 154 32.2 53 19.1 6.4 33 6.6 46.4 9.5 17.7
Rail 77 2.2 139 4.8 S S 533 35.8 5.1 35.9 7.8 S S -
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes S S S S S S 595 S S S S S S 38.8
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 595 S S S S S S 38.8
Other and unknown modes 2 0.1 S S S S 14 46.9 0.4 S S S S 45.4

SCTG2 10-14, Stones, nonmetallic minerals, and metallic ores

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 307 100 23,158 100 1,427 100 59 15.9 - 19.8 - 27.6 - 25
Single modes 299 97.6 23,036 99.5 1,342 94.1 56 16.2 1 19.9 0.2 27.8 1.9 25.2
Truck6 289 94 22,734 98.2 1,199 84 55 16.8 2.5 20.1 0.7 29.6 3.4 25.1
For-hire truck 147 48 12,137 52.4 562 39.4 48 15.6 3.5 24.5 6 24.5 5.6 41.1
Private truck 141 46 10,597 45.8 637 44.7 62 19.5 4 20.8 5.9 36.2 6.8 19
Rail 11 3.5 301 1.3 143 10 529 23 2.5 27.6 0.6 22.4 3.4 22.5
Multiple modes 2 0.8 61 0.3 38 2.6 753 45.3 0.2 41.3 0.1 33.6 0.8 46.3
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 518 S S S S S S 6
Truck and rail 2 0.7 61 0.3 38 2.6 1,081 34.2 0.2 39.6 0.1 31.5 0.8 31.7
Other and unknown modes 5 1.6 S S 47 3.3 S 47.3 1.3 S S 49.8 2.2 S

SCTG2 15-19, Coal and petroleum products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 2,077 100 3,498 100 292 100 39 30.2 - 26.7 - 31.4 - 31.6
Single modes 2,074 99.8 3,493 99.9 292 100 39 30.3 0.1 26.8 0.1 31.4 - 32
Truck6 2,074 99.8 3,493 99.9 292 100 39 30.3 0.1 26.8 0.1 31.4 - 32
For-hire truck 1,172 56.4 2,015 57.6 152 51.9 S 41 10.9 31.9 10.1 25.7 10.2 S
Private truck 901 43.4 1,478 42.3 S S 37 30.3 11 39.8 10.1 S S 25.4
Multiple modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 44 S S S S S S 31.4

SCTG2 20-24, Basic chemicals, chemical, and pharmaceutical products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 11,955 100 4,944 100 2,923 100 803 9.5 - 11.5 - 15.7 - 15
Single modes 10,104 84.5 4,090 82.7 2,109 72.1 243 10.8 3.3 11.8 5.6 14.7 7.4 17.7
Truck6 9,459 79.1 3,561 72 1,580 54.1 223 10.6 3.6 11.5 5.2 12.5 7.1 15.9
For-hire truck 7,089 59.3 2,411 48.8 1,268 43.4 557 12.3 4.4 9.9 4.2 9.8 6.4 9
Private truck 2,371 19.8 1,150 23.3 313 10.7 93 24 3.7 23.9 4.8 33.1 2.3 40
Rail 639 5.3 528 10.7 527 18 865 23.7 1.1 18.2 1.6 26.5 2.9 18.8
Air (incl truck and air) 5 - - - S S 2,270 37 - 37.6 - S S 25.3
Multiple modes 1,607 13.4 833 16.9 796 27.2 1,049 22.4 3.3 38.3 5.7 35.9 7.4 10.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 635 5.3 31 0.6 S S 1,050 28.5 1.2 44.8 0.3 S S 11
Truck and rail 959 8 795 16.1 757 25.9 883 36.9 4.4 38.1 6.8 35.7 8.8 11.6
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 504 S S S S S S 34.6

SCTG2 25-30, Logs, wood products, and textile and leather

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 15,066 100 25,013 100 6,077 100 512 10.9 - 38.3 - 14.9 - 27.1
Single modes 13,425 89.1 24,408 97.6 5,654 93 283 10.2 2.5 39.2 0.9 14.9 1.4 22.4
Truck6 12,413 82.4 22,520 90 4,441 73.1 279 10.6 3.2 43 3.8 18 4.9 22.7
For-hire truck 7,773 51.6 8,023 32.1 3,065 50.4 686 15.5 4.8 23.5 6.6 16.8 5.2 9.5
Private truck 4,639 30.8 S S 1,376 22.6 78 10.2 3.6 S S 39.5 5.1 48
Rail 1,009 6.7 1,888 7.5 1,213 20 645 17.6 1.4 19.9 3.1 18.8 4 8
Air (incl truck and air) S S - - - - 1,991 S S 43.2 - 31.3 - 41.7
Multiple modes 1,190 7.9 435 1.7 371 6.1 903 33.5 1.9 34.5 0.7 34.1 1.5 15
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 960 6.4 72 0.3 60 1 903 32.9 1.5 27.8 0.1 40 0.3 15
Truck and rail 197 1.3 324 1.3 287 4.7 821 39.6 0.5 38.5 0.8 35.2 1.7 8.9
Truck and water S S 17 0.1 12 0.2 712 S S 45.9 0.2 45.5 0.3 3.9
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S 170 0.7 52 0.9 S S S 25.3 0.3 46.5 0.4 S

SCTG2 31-34, Base metal and machinery

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 14,460 100 15,977 100 3,924 100 316 7.7 - 15.7 - 11.3 - 9.8
Single modes 12,974 89.7 15,604 97.7 3,758 95.8 210 7.4 1.7 16 0.9 12.2 1.5 16.4
Truck6 12,610 87.2 14,623 91.5 3,309 84.3 205 7.9 1.7 16.7 2.9 11.5 3.6 16.7
For-hire truck 8,717 60.3 6,910 43.2 2,360 60.1 532 8.8 1.8 13.9 4.8 11.3 3.9 9
Private truck 3,892 26.9 7,713 48.3 949 24.2 83 11.8 2.8 27.8 5.9 21.2 4.3 30.9
Rail 330 2.3 981 6.1 449 11.4 532 16.2 1 32.6 3.2 28.3 3.6 16.4
Air (incl truck and air) 35 0.2 1 - 1 - 1,559 28.5 0.1 29.6 - 30.9 - 32.9
Multiple modes 1,105 7.6 218 1.4 132 3.4 668 20.9 1.3 31.9 0.7 33.3 1.5 13.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 942 6.5 17 0.1 13 0.3 668 23.5 1.3 20.5 - 15.9 0.1 13.6
Truck and rail 130 0.9 199 1.2 118 3 732 29.1 0.4 28.9 1 31.9 2 43.2
Truck and water S S S S S S 679 S S S S S S 3.7
Other and unknown modes 381 2.6 155 1 34 0.9 S 40.5 1.1 38.4 0.7 49.1 0.5 S

SCTG2 35-38, Electronic, motorized vehicles, and precision instruments

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 11,063 100 1,425 100 908 100 324 17.7 - 29.7 - 31.5 - 29.5
Single modes 8,537 77.2 1,318 92.5 802 88.3 293 15.2 4.3 30.1 1.9 31.2 3.5 30.2
Truck6 8,476 76.6 1,316 92.4 799 88 285 15.3 4.2 30.2 1.8 31.3 3.4 30.8
For-hire truck 6,446 58.3 948 66.6 540 59.5 748 12.2 5.6 30.7 6.5 19 8.2 6.3
Private truck 2,030 18.3 S S S S S 42 3.3 S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) 61 0.6 2 0.1 3 0.3 1,298 28.8 0.3 44.4 0.2 37.9 0.4 22.9
Multiple modes 2,267 20.5 S S S S 386 33.5 4.3 S S S S 31.3
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 1,943 17.6 25 1.7 12 1.4 384 34.7 4 34.2 0.5 35.4 0.5 31.6
Truck and rail 152 1.4 10 0.7 S S 2,661 48.4 5.6 48.1 5.1 S S 24.7
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 259 2.3 34 2.4 S S S 33.2 0.9 40.2 2.4 S S S

SCTG2 39-43, Furniture, mixed freight and misc. manufactured products

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes 19,149 100 5,137 100 682 100 404 17 - 14.9 - 8 - 16.6
Single modes 18,553 96.9 4,973 96.8 649 95.1 286 17.5 1.3 16.3 2.7 9.5 2.4 24.3
Truck6 18,068 94.4 4,967 96.7 642 94.2 227 17.3 1.2 16.3 2.7 9.4 2.3 25.2
For-hire truck 11,647 60.8 3,146 61.2 426 62.6 642 33.8 12.1 31.2 12.2 14.9 7.5 8.1
Private truck 6,421 33.5 1,820 35.4 216 31.7 83 22.3 11.9 26 10.6 21.4 7 16
Air (incl truck and air) 485 2.5 6 0.1 S S 916 45.3 1 42.2 0.1 S S 8.1
Multiple modes 477 2.5 S S 19 2.8 850 23.3 1.1 S S 48.2 1.7 11.3
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 466 2.4 14 0.3 9 1.3 851 23.6 1 23.4 0.1 18.3 0.3 11.3
Truck and rail S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 118 0.6 S S S S 79 29.8 0.5 S S S S 41.6

SCTG2 99, Commodity Unknown

Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles3 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
CV4 Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of % CV Standard Error of %
All modes S S S S S S 185 S S S S S S 31.7
Single modes S S S S S S 189 S S S S S S 34.3
Truck6 S S S S S S 189 S S S S S S 34.3
For-hire truck S S 1 22.2 - 65.6 427 S S 45.1 7.1 14.5 14.6 30.5
Private truck S S 2 77.6 S S 57 S S 47.9 7.4 S S 26.8
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 34 S S S S S S 49.4

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 Standard Classification of Transported Goods.
3 Ton-miles estimates are based on estimated distances traveled along a modeled transportation network.
4 Coefficient of Variation.
5 Estimates exclude shipments of crude petroleum (SCTG 16).
6 "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.
7 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 row have no value. For example, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX by Base metal and machinery (31-34) by Water has no data for any shipment characteristic therefore the entire row is not shown. Also, entire commodity groups are not present if there is no such data for that commodity group by area. For example, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (DC part) by Coal and petroleum products (15-19) has no data for any mode therefore the entire commodity group is not shown.

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.