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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 178,154 100 143,502 100 52,152 100 668 1.9 - 11.6 - 15.9 - 3.8
Single modes 149,503 83.9 131,876 91.9 41,928 80.4 261 3.3 1.6 8.9 2.9 11.4 5.5 11
Truck6 144,474 81.1 114,293 79.6 28,592 54.8 236 3.4 1.7 8 3.8 4.7 6.4 11.3
For-hire truck 93,007 52.2 56,787 39.6 23,362 44.8 592 5.6 2.5 6.1 3.8 4.9 5.6 4.9
Private truck 51,467 28.9 57,506 40.1 5,231 10 83 5.6 1.6 12.9 1.8 11.9 1.3 11.7
Rail 3,148 1.8 17,483 12.2 13,190 25.3 867 9.9 0.2 26.3 2.5 30.9 5.6 7.1
Water 22 - S S S S 1,495 39.7 - S S S S 29.1
Shallow draft 22 - S S S S 1,495 39.7 - S S S S 29.1
Air (incl truck and air) 1,859 1 26 - 35 0.1 1,163 24.7 0.3 15.2 - 23.9 - 6.6
Multiple modes 24,379 13.7 S S S S 960 10 1.6 S S S S 2
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 22,161 12.4 549 0.4 474 0.9 958 11.1 1.6 9.3 0.1 9.8 0.2 1.9
Truck and rail 1,970 1.1 S S S S 1,222 17.8 0.2 S S S S 10.5
Truck and water 238 0.1 S S S S 3,994 32.5 - S S S S 20.9
Rail and water 8 - 8 - 13 - 1,524 40.5 - 2.6 - 8.3 0.2 3.2
Other multiple modes S S S S S S 2,470 S S S S S S 1.2
Other and unknown modes 4,271 2.4 1,127 0.8 471 0.9 S 24.6 0.6 32.3 0.3 27.8 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 11,323 100 17,220 100 6,780 100 646 12.7 - 14.5 - 14.7 - 17.9
Single modes 10,770 95.1 15,841 92 5,486 80.9 220 13.2 2.1 13.9 1.9 16.1 6.2 14.2
Truck6 10,177 89.9 12,798 74.3 3,928 57.9 212 14.5 3.5 19.6 6.3 10.8 7.1 13.3
For-hire truck 6,655 58.8 7,626 44.3 3,217 47.5 481 16.1 5.4 27.7 6.4 10.9 5.3 15.7
Private truck 3,522 31.1 5,172 30 710 10.5 92 16 2.9 34.5 7.1 19.2 2.6 15.7
Rail 574 5.1 2,970 17.3 1,451 21.4 974 25.1 2.8 30.3 6.1 49.2 7.3 17.5
Water 19 0.2 72 0.4 S S 1,494 47.4 0.5 44.5 1.3 S S 40.6
Shallow draft 19 0.2 72 0.4 S S 1,494 47.4 0.5 44.5 1.3 S S 40.6
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Multiple modes 364 3.2 1,082 6.3 1,217 18 1,172 30.1 0.8 40.1 1.7 40.4 6.3 15.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 115 1 10 0.1 9 0.1 1,170 30.1 0.2 33.9 - 38.9 0.1 15.1
Truck and rail 212 1.9 796 4.6 781 11.5 986 33.8 0.7 48.2 1.8 47.8 8.1 40.9
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 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 25,997 100 15,769 100 6,505 100 546 7.8 - 9.9 - 13.2 - 21.9
Single modes 24,844 95.6 15,081 95.6 5,752 88.4 125 8 1.3 9.6 1 12 2.8 34
Truck6 24,609 94.7 14,611 92.7 5,264 80.9 123 8 1.3 9.3 1.3 13.3 4.2 34.1
For-hire truck 15,559 59.8 8,976 56.9 4,560 70.1 504 10.7 2.8 10.7 3.5 14.7 4.1 9.7
Private truck 9,050 34.8 5,635 35.7 704 10.8 57 11.1 3.4 14.3 3.3 14.5 2.1 28
Rail 235 0.9 471 3 488 7.5 1,211 32 0.3 33.3 0.9 38 3.6 19.5
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 906 S S S S S S 38
Multiple modes 622 2.4 492 3.1 625 9.6 1,068 32.3 1 36.8 0.9 46.4 2.9 9.1
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 333 1.3 23 0.1 27 0.4 1,067 46.1 0.9 46.1 0.1 48.2 0.3 10.8
Truck and rail S S 457 2.9 S S 1,323 S S 36.4 1 S S 13.3
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 699 S S S S S S 18

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 1,026 100 38,203 100 15,333 100 193 28.4 - 34.5 - 45.8 - 32.5
Single modes 814 79.3 30,613 80.1 9,221 60.1 132 27.6 7.5 29.4 7.1 43.6 12.5 45.1
Truck6 623 60.7 20,947 54.8 1,701 11.1 75 35.6 8.9 31 12.1 44.4 19.8 33.3
For-hire truck S S 2,925 7.7 510 3.3 148 S S 33.2 15.7 46.9 16.7 36.6
Private truck 192 18.7 18,023 47.2 1,191 7.8 65 28.7 9.4 36.3 11.7 47.8 10.9 18.2
Rail 191 18.6 9,666 25.3 7,520 49 797 35.3 10.9 40.6 14.1 47.4 16.4 9.4
Multiple modes S S S S S S 813 S S S S S S 9.6
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S 1 - S S 608 S S 49.5 0.1 S S 17.3
Truck and rail S S S S S S 1,032 S S S S S S 2.6
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S 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 6,241 100 8,812 100 786 100 41 16.6 - 19.1 - 21.2 - 49.6
Single modes 6,218 99.6 8,801 99.9 775 98.6 38 16.7 0.1 19.1 0.1 21.6 0.8 37
Truck6 6,132 98.3 8,730 99.1 729 92.8 37 16.8 0.8 19.3 0.6 23.5 4.4 38.1
For-hire truck 3,887 62.3 5,944 67.5 619 78.7 113 26.7 8.8 29.8 8.9 29 10.1 8.7
Private truck 2,245 36 2,786 31.6 111 14.1 25 23.9 8.4 25.5 8.6 19.2 8.7 37.9
Rail 86 1.4 S S 46 5.8 799 35.5 2.4 S S 33.2 12.8 12
Multiple modes 22 0.4 11 0.1 S S 775 38.2 0.2 48 0.1 S S 28.5
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier S S S S S S 745 S S S S S S 35.6
Truck and rail 17 0.3 10 0.1 11 1.4 1,018 12.2 0.4 7.7 0.2 23.5 2.8 14.4
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S 27 S S S S S S 32.9

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 18,459 100 8,397 100 4,212 100 396 13.3 - 27.7 - 45.4 - 12.1
Single modes 12,552 68 8,149 97 3,918 93 231 9.4 5.2 28.1 0.8 47.1 3 25.9
Truck6 11,462 62.1 6,535 77.8 2,084 49.5 167 9 6.4 20.9 5.3 22.4 12.3 23.5
For-hire truck 8,113 43.9 3,566 42.5 1,833 43.5 399 10.5 4.7 20.9 6.5 24.5 10.1 15.9
Private truck 3,349 18.1 2,969 35.4 251 5.9 66 15.2 2.8 25.9 5.7 15.7 2.7 14.2
Rail 370 2 S S S S 1,096 43.2 0.9 S S S S 32.6
Air (incl truck and air) S S 5 0.1 5 0.1 1,433 S S 45.6 0.1 44.3 0.1 20.7
Multiple modes 5,769 31.3 170 2 264 6.3 649 28 5.2 25.9 0.3 44.1 3 8.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 5,573 30.2 69 0.8 45 1.1 646 29.4 5.4 25.5 0.2 38.9 0.5 8.6
Truck and rail 92 0.5 77 0.9 S S 1,110 22.8 0.1 36 0.2 S S 18
Truck and water S S S S S S 3,272 S S S S S S 40.8
Other and unknown modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

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 28,262 100 21,829 100 10,512 100 942 2.5 - 8 - 6 - 7.4
Single modes 23,454 83 20,903 95.8 9,304 88.5 399 3.7 2.5 8.4 0.5 6.1 0.8 7.6
Truck6 22,342 79.1 19,293 88.4 8,008 76.2 389 3.8 2.5 8.5 0.9 5.4 1.7 8
For-hire truck 18,116 64.1 15,347 70.3 7,512 71.5 613 3.8 2.4 7.4 2.1 5.5 2.1 8.1
Private truck 4,225 15 3,946 18.1 496 4.7 91 11.2 1.4 20.6 2.2 19.1 0.7 13.4
Rail 1,085 3.8 1,605 7.4 1,285 12.2 1,035 9.7 0.4 10.1 0.5 16.1 1.5 8.9
Air (incl truck and air) 26 0.1 S S S S 1,176 26.7 - S S S S 7.9
Multiple modes 4,597 16.3 757 3.5 1,135 10.8 1,039 16.4 2.5 9.4 0.4 10.4 0.8 4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 3,840 13.6 124 0.6 113 1.1 1,036 18.7 2.4 12.7 0.1 13.2 0.2 4
Truck and rail 712 2.5 617 2.8 948 9 1,723 11.6 0.3 12.7 0.4 14.6 1 6
Truck and water S S S S S S 8,228 S S S S S S 22.3
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes 212 0.7 169 0.8 73 0.7 153 19.6 0.2 48.5 0.4 29.4 0.2 49.6

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 30,959 100 23,432 100 4,536 100 665 6.3 - 17.1 - 15.7 - 8.5
Single modes 26,015 84 23,180 98.9 4,309 95 278 7.9 2.5 17.3 0.5 16.3 1.1 12.4
Truck6 25,673 82.9 22,305 95.2 3,788 83.5 257 7.8 2.4 17.5 1.6 13.2 3.1 13.4
For-hire truck 17,916 57.9 8,339 35.6 3,022 66.6 558 8.5 3.2 21.1 9.8 12.7 4.1 4
Private truck 7,757 25.1 13,965 59.6 766 16.9 81 13 2.6 31 10.4 26.5 2.8 36.7
Rail 117 0.4 869 3.7 510 11.2 S 18.5 0.1 27.5 2.2 39.2 4.1 S
Water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Shallow draft S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Air (incl truck and air) 222 0.7 6 - 9 0.2 1,365 22.2 0.1 30.6 - 34.3 0.1 7.2
Multiple modes 4,403 14.2 176 0.8 157 3.5 946 15.5 2.5 15.1 0.3 19.9 0.6 3.8
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 4,124 13.3 97 0.4 78 1.7 945 17.4 2.7 18.5 0.2 21 0.4 3.8
Truck and rail S S 71 0.3 65 1.4 1,096 S S 32.1 0.2 43 0.5 19.6
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Rail and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other multiple modes S S S S S S 2,470 S S S S S S 1.2
Other and unknown modes 541 1.7 76 0.3 70 1.5 S 34.8 0.6 27.3 0.3 44.9 0.9 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 32,412 100 3,008 100 1,693 100 498 8.3 - 19.5 - 22.1 - 15.1
Single modes 24,568 75.8 2,735 90.9 1,542 91.1 332 11.7 4.4 20.8 3.6 22.2 1.7 24.5
Truck6 23,310 71.9 2,692 89.5 1,502 88.7 295 11.4 4 20.9 3.4 22.3 1.7 27.2
For-hire truck 14,025 43.3 1,710 56.9 1,099 64.9 725 16.9 4.9 30.6 6.7 27.5 5.5 8.4
Private truck 9,285 28.6 982 32.7 403 23.8 80 17.9 4.5 24.5 5.3 28.1 5.6 27.2
Rail 438 1.4 36 1.2 34 2 961 21.5 2.3 18.3 2.2 34.9 3.5 19
Air (incl truck and air) 819 2.5 6 0.2 6 0.4 1,014 29 0.6 31.2 0.1 35 0.1 5.6
Multiple modes 5,637 17.4 111 3.7 86 5.1 738 17.3 3.1 19.7 0.8 29.4 1.3 8.7
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 5,461 16.8 95 3.1 75 4.4 738 17.8 3.1 18.5 0.8 31.4 1.4 8.7
Truck and rail 176 0.5 17 0.6 11 0.6 612 25.6 0.4 24.7 0.3 26 0.6 38.7
Other and unknown modes 2,207 6.8 161 5.4 S S S 49.9 4.5 36.7 3.6 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 23,470 100 6,828 100 1,795 100 726 7.7 - 8.8 - 9.8 - 6.5
Single modes 20,266 86.3 6,568 96.2 1,619 90.2 278 8.2 1.7 9.1 0.9 10.1 1.8 19
Truck6 20,144 85.8 6,379 93.4 1,588 88.5 270 8.2 1.7 9.2 1.5 10.1 2 19.2
For-hire truck 8,304 35.4 2,354 34.5 990 55.1 687 11.3 2.9 12.7 3.1 11.3 2.5 5.4
Private truck 11,840 50.4 4,024 58.9 598 33.3 155 9.6 2.5 13.2 3.6 11.3 2.2 24.5
Rail 52 0.2 186 2.7 26 1.5 411 33.7 0.2 39.6 2.3 32.5 1.4 43.6
Air (incl truck and air) S S S S S S 1,180 S S S S S S 27.1
Multiple modes 2,752 11.7 187 2.7 148 8.2 1,004 11.6 1.4 17.9 0.6 19.4 1.5 3.4
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 2,668 11.4 129 1.9 125 7 1,004 13 1.6 22.3 0.5 23.6 1.5 3.4
Truck and rail S S 58 0.9 22 1.2 813 S S 40.5 0.6 41.3 1 40.3
Truck and water S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Other and unknown modes S S 73 1.1 S S S S S 38.4 0.5 S S S

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 - 100 S S S S S 37.6 - S
Single modes S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Truck6 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
For-hire truck S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Private truck S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
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

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.