Freight Facts and Figures 2009

Figures 2-2 and 2-2M. U.S. International Merchandise Trade by Transportation Mode: 2008

Nearly 80 percent of freight tonnage in U.S. foreign trade moves by water, but air and truck transportation are nearly as important when freight value is considered.  By value, the water share drops to 48 percent, with air and truck accounting for 24 percent and 16 percent respectively. Rail and pipeline account for the balance.

 

Figure 2-2 (standard units)

[PDF 53KB]

 

Data represented in the figure.

Table in Excel format

Mode	Billions of U.S. dollars Total trade	Billions of U.S. dollars Exports	Billions of U.S. dollars Imports
Water	1,624	472	1,152
Air	806	388	417
Truck	554	279	276
Rail	140	51	89
Pipeline	88	6	82
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous	188	104	84
Total, all modes	3,400	1,300	2,100

 

Mode	Millions of short tons Total trade	Millions of short tons Exports	Millions of short tons Imports
Water	1,519	536	983
Air	8	4	4
Truck	182	94	88
Rail	148	62	85
Pipeline	99	4	95
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous	7	6	1
Total, all modes	1,962	705	1,257

Notes:

1 short ton = 2,000 pounds. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimated 2008 weight data for truck, rail, and pipeline modes using value-to-weight ratios derived from imported commodities. Totals for the most recent year differ slightly from the USDOT, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and Operations, Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) due to variations in coverage and FAF conversion of values to constant dollars. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Sources:

Total, water and air data: U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Imports of Merchandise and U.S. Exports of Merchandise DVD's, December 2008.

Truck, rail, and pipeline data: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transporation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, available at www.bts.gov/transborder as of August 20, 2009.

Other, unknown and miscellaneous data: Special tabulation, August 2009.

 

Figure 2-2M (metric units)

[PDF 51KB]

 

Data represented in the figure.

Table in Excel format

Mode	Billions of U.S. dollars Total trade	Billions of U.S. dollars Exports	Billions of U.S. dollars Imports
Water	1,624	472	1,152
Air	806	388	417
Truck	554	279	276
Rail	140	51	89
Pipeline	88	6	82
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous	188	104	84
Total, all modes	3,400	1,300	2,100

 

Mode	Millions of metric tonnes Total trade	Millions of metric tonnes Exports	Millions of metric tonnes Imports
Water	1,378	486	892
Air	7	3	4
Truck	165	85	80
Rail	134	57	77
Pipeline	89	3	86
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous	6	6	1
Total, all modes	1,780	640	1,140

Notes:

Notes: 1 metric tonne = 1.1023 short tons. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimated 2008 weight data for truck, rail, and pipeline modes using value-to-weight ratios derived from imported commodities. Totals for the most recent year differ slightly from the USDOT, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and Operations, Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) due to variations in coverage and FAF conversion of values to constant dollars. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Sources:

Total, water and air data: U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Imports of Merchandise and U.S. Exports of Merchandise DVD's, December 2008.

Truck, rail, and pipeline data: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transporation Statistics, TransBorder Freight Data, available at www.bts.gov/transborder as of August 20, 2009.

Other, unknown and miscellaneous data: Special tabulation, August 2009.

 

 

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