Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
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Table 11a. Shipment Characteristics by Mode of Transportation for the United States: 2002 and 1997

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

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Mode of transportation Value Tons Ton-miles1 Average miles per shipment
2002
million $)
1997
(milllion $)
Percent
change
2002
(thousands)
1997
(thousands)
Percent
change
2002
(millions)
1997
(millions)
Percent
change
2002 1997 Percent
change
Total 8,397,210 6,859,805 22.4 11,667,919 10,566,330 10.4 3,137,898 2,592,590 21.0 546 486 12.5
Single modes 7,049,383 5,673,920 24.2 11,086,660 9,928,296 11.7 2,867,938 2,317,973 23.7 240 200 19.7
Truck 2 6,235,001 4,936,491 26.3 7,842,836 7,292,256 7.6 1,255,908 998,035 25.8 173 157 10.2
Rail 310,884 318,915 −2.5 1,873,884 1,543,727 21.4 1,261,612 1,021,250 23.5 807 775 4.2
Water 89,344 75,765 17.9 681,227 535,558 27.2 282,659 240,572 17.5 568 483 17.6
Air (includes truck and air) 264,959 229,272 15.6 3,760 4,378 −14.1 5,835 6,124 −4.7 1,919 1,394 37.6
Pipeline3 149,195 113,476 31.5 684,953 552,377 24.0 S S S S S S
Multiple modes 1,079,185 913,164 18.2 216,686 212,981 1.7 225,715 202,602 11.4 895 822 8.8
Parcel, U.S.P.S. or courier 987,746 823,311 20.0 25,513 22,100 15.4 19,004 16,729 13.6 894 821 8.8
Truck and rail 69,929 75,566 −7.5 42,984 53,730 −20 45,525 55,371 −17.8 1,413 1,353 4.4
Other multiple modes 21,510 14,287 50.6 148,189 137,151 8.0 161,187 130,503 23.5 1,596 991 61.1
Other and unknown modes 268,642 272,722 −1.5 364,573 425,053 −14.2 44,245 72,015 −38.6 130 123 5.9

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 Ton-miles estimates are based on estimated distances traveled along a modeled transportation network. See "Mileage Calculations" section for additional information.
2 "Truck" as a single mode includes shipments that were made by only private truck, only for-hire truck, or a combination of private truck and for-hire truck.
3 Estimates for pipeline exclude shipments of crude petroleum.

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.



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