USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Site Notification

Site Notification

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 32,583 100 61,871 100 13,322 100 242 20.2 - 13.8 - 12.0 - 16.9
Less than 50 lbs 634 1.9 20 - 6 - 326 19.0 1.1 14.5 - 18.0 - 16.4
50 - 99 lbs 233 0.7 18 - 4 - 230 23.8 0.4 22.1 - 18.6 - 29.0
100 - 499 lbs 1,017 3.1 143 0.2 22 0.2 157 12.1 1.0 21.4 0.1 25.0 0.1 20.3
500 - 749 lbs 275 0.8 91 0.1 8 0.1 89 11.0 0.4 34.0 - 24.1 - 34.1
750 - 999 lbs 204 0.6 79 0.1 8 0.1 103 20.2 0.1 39.8 - 26.1 - 25.4
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 2,216 6.8 1,264 2.0 180 1.4 132 16.6 2.3 23.5 1.1 15.8 0.8 19.3
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 7,274 22.3 13,610 22.0 2,406 18.1 169 8.7 5.5 12.9 4.9 12.7 4.2 8.3
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 1,352 4.1 5,783 9.3 610 4.6 97 22.0 1.2 14.7 2.6 27.3 1.7 8.7
More than 100,000 lbs 19,379 59.5 40,863 66.0 10,078 75.6 370 33.9 10.6 22.9 8.1 17.0 6.5 18.1

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 31,031 100 60,351 100 12,237 100 135 22.0 - 14.3 - 13.9 - 12.2
Less than 50 lbs 218 0.7 13 - 2 - 142 23.6 0.3 22.0 - 35.0 - 19.4
50 - 99 lbs 114 0.4 14 - 2 - 132 31.6 0.2 26.8 - 36.4 - 19.5
100 - 499 lbs 861 2.8 135 0.2 18 0.1 129 14.9 1.1 21.9 0.1 28.8 0.1 18.9
500 - 749 lbs 254 0.8 89 0.1 7 0.1 84 11.9 0.4 34.2 - 24.6 - 35.4
750 - 999 lbs 199 0.6 79 0.1 8 0.1 101 19.4 0.1 40.0 - 26.9 - 26.9
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 2,181 7.0 1,252 2.1 174 1.4 130 17.1 2.6 23.8 1.1 16.5 1.0 18.9
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 6,952 22.4 13,302 22.0 2,144 17.5 153 9.0 6.3 12.6 5.1 11.4 4.8 10.2
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 1,283 4.1 5,292 8.8 501 4.1 89 24.2 1.3 11.0 2.6 25.6 1.7 12.3
More than 100,000 lbs 18,968 61.1 40,176 66.6 9,381 76.7 322 35.2 11.0 23.4 8.3 19.1 7.4 18.6

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 11,839 100 22,556 100 2,663 100 132 11.3 - 13.0 - 9.6 - 12.6
Less than 50 lbs 217 1.8 13 0.1 2 0.1 142 23.6 0.3 21.9 - 34.9 - 19.2
50 - 99 lbs 114 1.0 14 0.1 2 0.1 132 31.6 0.2 26.8 - 36.4 - 19.5
100 - 499 lbs 860 7.3 134 0.6 18 0.7 129 14.9 0.9 21.9 0.1 28.9 0.2 18.8
500 - 749 lbs 250 2.1 89 0.4 7 0.3 82 11.9 0.5 34.3 0.1 25.3 0.1 35.2
750 - 999 lbs 198 1.7 78 0.3 8 0.3 101 19.6 0.2 40.3 0.1 27.0 0.1 27.1
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 2,167 18.3 1,246 5.5 173 6.5 129 17.3 1.5 24.0 1.3 16.7 0.8 19.7
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 6,732 56.9 13,065 57.9 1,955 73.4 144 9.8 1.9 12.7 3.7 10.5 2.3 11.9
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 1,206 10.2 5,095 22.6 387 14.6 77 26.3 1.5 10.8 2.9 12.5 1.9 10.5
More than 100,000 lbs 94 0.8 S S S S 72 31.4 0.3 S S S S 39.1

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 7,037 100 9,573 100 1,871 100 380 11.0 - 20.3 - 10.5 - 15.4
Less than 50 lbs 8 0.1 - - - - 910 24.8 - 14.2 - 17.5 - 13.3
50 - 99 lbs 8 0.1 - - - - 644 34.1 - 15.0 - 18.6 - 10.0
100 - 499 lbs 247 3.5 18 0.2 12 0.6 678 14.3 0.9 22.2 0.1 34.2 0.3 10.1
500 - 749 lbs 85 1.2 8 0.1 4 0.2 529 19.7 0.2 19.1 - 23.5 0.1 12.0
750 - 999 lbs 94 1.3 10 0.1 5 0.2 469 17.4 0.2 14.7 - 17.4 - 15.6
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 1,232 17.5 423 4.4 125 6.7 378 28.4 2.2 49.9 2.1 19.5 1.1 12.8
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 4,999 71.0 6,401 66.9 1,471 78.6 241 9.9 2.7 24.5 4.3 12.0 2.5 17.7
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 335 4.8 2,446 25.6 233 12.5 96 14.2 0.8 21.0 3.2 15.6 2.0 12.2
More than 100,000 lbs 28 0.4 266 2.8 20 1.1 83 40.2 0.2 33.3 1.9 24.8 0.4 44.3

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 4,803 100 12,983 100 792 100 94 15.6 - 22.2 - 18.2 - 19.6
Less than 50 lbs 210 4.4 13 0.1 1 0.2 127 24.5 0.9 22.3 - 37.3 0.1 19.4
50 - 99 lbs 106 2.2 14 0.1 2 0.2 120 32.5 0.5 27.6 - 40.8 0.1 24.6
100 - 499 lbs 613 12.8 117 0.9 6 0.8 60 22.8 2.7 23.1 0.2 25.8 0.1 24.0
500 - 749 lbs 165 3.4 80 0.6 3 0.4 37 18.7 1.2 38.7 0.2 35.4 0.1 46.4
750 - 999 lbs 104 2.2 69 0.5 3 0.4 50 34.0 0.4 46.1 0.2 49.5 0.1 35.7
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 935 19.5 824 6.3 48 6.1 53 15.1 2.8 27.2 1.5 32.4 2.2 27.2
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 1,733 36.1 6,663 51.3 484 61.1 65 17.0 2.7 13.5 5.8 21.8 5.7 14.0
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 871 18.1 2,649 20.4 154 19.4 58 34.0 3.9 22.7 4.7 22.0 3.9 28.4
More than 100,000 lbs 67 1.4 S S S S S 39.6 1.1 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 1,194 100 7,135 100 1,698 100 419 28.7 - 37.5 - 35.8 - 26.2
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 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 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 S S 1 - S S S S S 46.1 0.1 S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S 172 10.1 776 S S S S 48.6 2.9 21.5
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 51 4.3 153 2.1 S S S 45.2 3.3 30.3 1.8 S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 917 76.8 6,760 94.8 1,443 85.0 357 26.5 6.1 37.5 1.4 31.5 4.0 26.0

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 1,664 100 6,224 100 4,460 100 826 20.1 - 21.3 - 24.9 - 9.5
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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 1,638 98.4 6,176 99.2 4,413 99.0 789 20.6 1.8 21.9 2.0 25.5 1.9 9.7

Shallow draft

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 1,664 100 6,224 100 4,460 100 826 20.1 - 21.3 - 24.9 - 9.5
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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 1,638 98.4 6,176 99.2 4,413 99.0 789 20.6 1.8 21.9 2.0 25.5 1.9 9.7

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 844 S S S S S S 22.9
Less than 50 lbs S S S S S S 707 S S S S S S 40.2
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs S S S S S S 831 S S S S S S 8.7
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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
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 16,330 100 24,436 100 S S S 42.4 - 43.4 - S S S
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 S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 2 - S S S S S 37.7 2.5 S S S S S
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
More than 100,000 lbs 16,319 99.9 24,419 99.9 S S S 42.4 0.5 43.4 0.4 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 1,456 100 1,466 100 S S 662 30.6 - 46.2 - S S 7.8
Less than 50 lbs 410 28.2 6 0.4 4 0.4 672 28.6 5.2 14.7 2.6 20.4 2.7 8.1
50 - 99 lbs 118 8.1 3 0.2 2 0.2 669 28.5 3.7 16.7 2.0 22.6 2.0 12.3
100 - 499 lbs 141 9.7 7 0.5 4 0.4 544 13.2 4.0 25.0 5.3 15.2 3.1 12.0
500 - 749 lbs 20 1.4 2 0.1 1 0.1 343 43.0 1.8 32.3 1.4 24.9 0.5 34.1
750 - 999 lbs S S - - S S S S S 31.4 0.6 S S S
1,000 - 9,999 lbs 12 0.8 4 0.3 S S S 30.8 1.6 38.8 11.3 S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 272 18.7 266 18.1 230 21.9 903 38.3 4.8 45.4 7.6 41.2 9.5 16.7
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 68 4.7 S S 109 10.4 S 46.7 3.7 S S 33.4 12.2 S
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 886 S S S S S S 11.5

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 688 100 18 100 11 100 664 18.1 - 14.6 - 16.4 - 8.3
Less than 50 lbs 410 59.7 6 34.2 4 40.1 672 28.6 6.2 14.7 3.7 20.4 3.1 8.1
50 - 99 lbs 118 17.1 3 17.6 2 20.6 669 28.5 3.5 16.7 3.6 22.6 2.9 12.3
100 - 499 lbs 136 19.9 7 39.1 4 34.0 540 14.3 6.0 25.6 4.5 16.7 4.3 11.9
500 - 749 lbs 20 2.8 1 7.8 1 5.0 368 43.1 2.0 35.5 2.0 22.7 1.1 33.5
750 - 999 lbs S S - 1.2 - 0.3 S S S 42.3 4.2 1.8 1.2 S
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 489 100 S S 384 100 486 40.4 - S S 39.0 - 43.3
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
100 - 499 lbs S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
500 - 749 lbs S S S S - - S S S S S 3.3 0.4 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 S S S S S S S S S S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 264 54.0 228 25.2 183 47.7 862 38.6 10.5 43.3 14.0 39.9 11.1 18.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs 52 10.6 S S 53 13.8 S 47.5 6.0 S S 27.0 5.9 S
More than 100,000 lbs 162 33.1 238 26.3 144 37.4 660 40.0 13.2 36.4 19.1 34.2 14.7 22.9

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 1,199 S S S S S S 8.6
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 S S S S S S 1,242 S S S S S S 2.1
50,000 - 99,999 lbs S S S S S S 935 S S S S S S 30.9
More than 100,000 lbs S S S S S S 1,268 S S S S S S 8.6

Other 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 S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
Less than 50 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
50 - 99 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10,000 - 49,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 96 100 53 100 34 100 S 23.6 - 43.7 - 45.5 - S
Less than 50 lbs 5 5.4 S S - - 9 45.8 2.3 S S 47.3 0.2 12.7
50 - 99 lbs 1 1.0 S S S S 7 40.7 0.6 S S S S 8.3
100 - 499 lbs S S 2 3.1 - 0.1 S S S 38.3 5.7 42.0 2.5 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 8 15.4 S S S S S 39.4 13.6 S S S
10,000 - 49,999 lbs 50 51.7 42 79.2 32 95.1 735 38.9 10.0 48.7 6.7 40.8 1.0 25.6
50,000 - 99,999 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
More than 100,000 lbs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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.