Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
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Table 3e. Shipment Characteristics by Distance Shipped: Percent of Total for 2002, 1997 and 1993

[Estimates are based on data from the 2002, 1997, and 1993 Commodity Flow Surveys. Because of rounding, estimates may not be additive]

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Distance Shipped1
(Based on Great Circle Distance)
Value (percent) Tons (percent) Ton-miles2 (percent)
2002 1997 1993 2002 1997 1993 2002 1997 1993
All distances 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Less than 50 miles 29.8 30.9 30.3 54.1 57.8 56.0 4.1 4.9 4.9
50 to 99 miles 9.0 8.6 9.2 10.1 9.3 11.0 3.5 3.6 4.4
100 to 249 miles 15.8 15.5 15.9 12.7 12.2 11.9 10.5 11.2 10.8
250 to 499 miles 14.5 14.2 14.6 9.3 8.4 8.9 17.0 16.7 17.4
500 to 749 miles 10.1 9.5 9.8 5.2 5.0 5.5 16.1 17.6 19.3
750 to 999 miles 6.5 6.3 6.4 3.7 3.4 3.0 16.3 16.3 14.1
1,000 to 1,499 miles 6.0 6.8 6.0 3.6 2.8 2.5 21.0 18.4 16.2
1,500 to 1,999 miles 4.2 4.2 3.9 0.9 0.7 0.8 6.9 6.5 7.1
2,000 miles or more 4.0 4.1 4.2 0.4 0.4 0.5 4.5 4.7 5.8

KEY:
– Represents data cell equal to zero or less than 1 unit of measure.
S Estimate does not meet publication standards because of high sampling variability or poor response quality.

1 Shipments are grouped into distance categories based on Great Circle Distance (GCD). GCD is the shortest distance between 2 points on the surface of a sphere over the surface of that sphere.
2 Ton-miles estimates are based on estimated distances traveled along a modeled transportation network. See "Mileage Calculations" section for additional information.

NOTES: Value-of-shipments estimates have not been adjusted for price changes. Appendix B tables provide estimated measures of sampling variability. The Introduction and appendixes give information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions. Links to this information on the Internet may be found at www.census.gov/cfs.
Coverage for the 2002 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) differs from the previous surveys due to a change from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification System to the 1997 North American Industry Classification System and other survey improvements. Therefore, data users are urged to use caution when comparing 2002 CFS estimates with estimates from prior years.

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (USDOT) and U.S. Census Bureau, 2002 Commodity Flow Survey, United States Data, December 2004.