Freight Statistics by Mode, 2007 Commodity Flow Survey
December 21, 2009
Results from the 2007 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) show that about 70% of all freight movement in the U.S. is by truck, in terms of the shipment value and tonnage. Rail moves about 15% of freight tons, but moves those tons over great distances, accounting for 37% of ton-miles. Parcel delivery, US Postal Service (USPS) or courier service account for 13.5% of shipments by value, but less than half of one percent by tonnage.
Value, Tonnage, and Ton-Miles of Shipments by Mode, 2007 CFS
World Vehicle Production (Thousands)
| Transportation Mode | Shipment Value | Tons Shipped | Ton-Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck | 70.7% | 68.8% | 39.8% |
| Rail | 3.3% | 14.8% | 37.1% |
| Water | 0.9% | 3.3% | 5.0% |
| Air | 1.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Pipeline | 4.1% | 6.0% | NA |
| Parcel, USPS, or Courier | 13.5% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Multiple Modes | 2.9% | 4.5% | 13.2% |
| Other and Unknown Modes | 2.9% | 2.3% | 1.4% |
| All Modes | $11.8 trillion | 13.0 billion | 3.5 trillion |
Notes
- NA = not available due to high sampling variability or poor response quality.
- Air includes truck to/from airport.
Source
U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, "U.S. Freight on the Move: Survey Preliminary Data," SR-018, September 2009.