Detailed Description
Mode
Multimodal
Abstract
The Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) is designed to provide
data on the flow of goods and materials by mode of
transport. The 1993 and 1997 CFS are a continuation of statistics collected in the
Commodity Transportation Survey from 1963 through 1997, and includes major improvements
in methodology, sample size and scope. Samples of 200,000 (1993 CFS) and 100,000 (1997 CFS)
domestic establishments
randomly selected from a universe of about 800,000
establishments engaged in mining, manufacturing, wholesale,
auxiliary establishments (warehouses) of multi-establishment
companies, and some selected activities in retail and
service were used.
For the 1997 CFS, each selected establishment reported a sample of abut 25 outbound shipments for a one-week period in each of four calendar quarters in 1997.
This produced a total sample of over 5 million shipments.
For each sampled 1997 CFS shipment, zip code of origin and destination, 5-digit Standard Classification of Transported Goods (SCTG) code, weight, value, and modes of transport, have been provided. Check box information on whether the shipment was
containerized, a hazardous material, or an export was also
obtained.
Source of Data
A sample of manufacturing, wholesale, and other establishments completed the questionnaire.
Attributes
Geographic Coverage of Data: National, Stratified by State and (for 1997 CFS) Metropolitan Area
Time Span of Data Source: 1993 and 1997
First Developed: 1993
Update Frequency: Every Five Years starting in 1997
Number of Records: Over Five Million (Estimated)
File Size: varies
File Format: dBase
Media: CD-ROM, Hardcopy
Significant Features and/or Limitations
The 1993 and 1997 CFS differ from previous surveys in their greatly
expanded coverage of intermodalism. Earlier surveys reported
only the principal mode. The 1993 survey reported all modes
used for the shipment (for-hire truck, private truck, rail,
inland water, deep sea water, pipeline, air, parcel delivery
or U.S. Postal Service, other mode, unknown). Route distance
for each mode for each shipment has been imputed from a
Mode-Distance Table developed by Oak Ridge National
Laboratory. Distance, in turn, was used to compute
ton-mileage by mode of transport.
Corresponding Printed Sources
1993 Commodity Flow Survey
1997 Commodity Flow Survey
Sponsoring Organization
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation
Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce
Performing Organization
Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Availability
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation.
Contact for Additional Information
U.S. Department of Commerce
Census Bureau
Services Division
Commodity Flow Survey Branch
(301) 457-2108
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