Freight Facts and Figures 2013

Tables 2-1 and 2-1M. Weight of Shipments by Transportation Mode: 2007, 2012, and 2040¹

In 2012 the U.S. transportation system moved a daily average of about 54 million tons of freight valued at nearly $48 billion. After back-to-back declines in 2008 and 2009, the tonnage and value of freight moved in 2012 surpassed the previous highs reached in 2007, by just over 4 percent each.

Table 2-1 (standard units)

Table in Excel format

Millions of tons

	2007				2012				2040
	Total	Domestic	Exports2	Imports2	Total	Domestic	Exports2	Imports2	Total	Domestic	Exports2	Imports2
Total	18,879	16,851	655	1,372	19,622	17,523	901	1,238	28,520	23,095	2,632	2,794
Truck	12,778	12,587	95	97	13,182	12,973	118	92	18,786	18,083	368	335
Rail	1,900	1,745	61	93	2,018	1,855	85	82	2,770	2,182	388	201
Water	950	504	65	381	975	542	95	338	1,070	559	164	347
Air, air & truck	13	3	4	6	15	3	5	7	53	6	20	27
Multiple modes & mail	1,415	419	389	606	1,588	453	540	595	3,575	645	1,546	1,383
Pipeline	1,507	1,328	4	175	1,546	1,421	13	112	1,740	1,257	17	467
Other & unknown	316	266	36	14	338	277	47	14	526	362	130	34

¹ 2007 total and domestic numbers for the multiple modes & mail and the pipeline categories were revised as a result of Freight Analysis Framework database improvements.

²Data do not include imports and exports that pass through the United States from a foreign origin to a foreign destination by any mode.

Notes:

Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. The 2012 data are provisional estimates that are based on selected modal and economic trend data. All truck, rail, water, and pipeline movements that involve more than one mode, including exports and imports that change mode at international gateways, are included in multiple modes & mail to avoid double counting. As a consequence, rail and water totals in this table are less than other published sources.

Source:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and Operations, Freight Analysis Framework, version 3.4, 2014.

 

Table 2-1M (metric units)

Table in Excel format

Millions of metric tonnes

	2007				2012				2040
	Total	Domestic	Exports2	Imports2	Total	Domestic	Exports2	Imports2	Total	Domestic	Exports2	Imports2
Total	17,127	15,288	594	1,245	17,837	15,897	817	1,123	25,874	20,951	2,388	2,535
Truck	11,592	11,418	86	88	11,959	11,769	107	83	17,042	16,405	334	304
Rail	1,723	1,583	56	84	1,831	1,683	74	74	2,513	1,979	352	182
Water	862	457	59	346	885	492	87	306	971	507	149	315
Air, air & truck	12	2	4	5	13	3	5	6	48	6	18	25
Multiple modes & mail	1,283	380	353	550	1,441	411	490	540	3,243	586	1,403	1,255
Pipeline	1,367	1,204	4	159	1,403	1,289	12	101	1,579	1,140	15	424
Other & unknown	287	241	33	13	307	251	43	13	477	329	118	31

¹2007 total and domestic numbers for the multiple modes & mail and the pipeline categories were revised as a result of Freight Analysis Framework database improvements.

²Data do not include imports and exports that pass through the United States from a foreign origin to a foreign destination by any mode.

Notes:

1 metric tonne = 1.1023 short tons. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. The 2012 data are provisional estimates that are based on selected modal and economic trend data. All truck, rail, water, and pipeline movements that involve more than one mode, including exports and imports that change mode at international gateways, are included in multiple modes & mail to avoid double counting. As a consequence, rail and water totals in this table are less than other published sources.

Source:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and Operations, Freight Analysis Framework, version 3.4, 2012.

 

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