Freight Facts and Figures 2012
Table 4-1. Transportation Fixed Assets: 2000, 2005, and 2009-2011
Fixed transportation assets reflect the significant role of both public and private sectors in moving freight. Freight railroad facilities and services are almost entirely private, while private-sector trucks operate over public highways. Air-cargo services in the private sector operate in public airways and mostly public airports, and ships in the private sector serve public waterways and both public and private port facilities. Pipelines are mostly privately owned, although significantly controlled by public regulation. In the public sector, virtually all truck routes are owned and maintained by state or local governments. Airports and harbors are typically owned by public authorities, although terminals are usually owned or managed by private operators. Air and water navigation is mostly controlled by the Federal government, and safety is regulated by all levels of government.
Total private and public fixed assets grew from just over $26.9 trillion in 2000 to nearly $46.4 trillion in 2011 (current U.S. dollars). Transportation equipment and structures (private and public) accounted for nearly 12 percent of the total in 2011. The components of transportation fixed assets and their 2011 values are private transportation equipment ($1.04 trillion), private transportation structures ($680 billion), and government transportation structures ($3.77 trillion).1
1 Fixed assets include both passenger and freight transportation. See the Bureau of Economic Analysis at www.bea.gov/national/FA2004/index.asp, tables 2.1, 3.1s, and 7.1b.
Table in Excel format | Historical data
Billions of current dollars
 |
2000 | 2005 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Percent change, 2000 to 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Sector | ||||||
| Transportation Equipment1 | 828 | 980 | (R) 1,000 | (R) 987 | 1,037 | 25.2 |
| Transportation Structures2 | 450 | 557 | (R) 638 | (R) 657 | 680 | 51.3 |
| Public Sector | ||||||
| Highways | 1,435 | 2,056 | 2,836 | 2,939 | 3,132 | 118.2 |
| Transportation Structures2 | 261 | 413 | 564 | (R) 590 | 635 | 143.6 |
| Federal | 6 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 131.3 |
| State and Local | 254 | 403 | 551 | (R) 576 | 621 | 143.9 |
Key: R = revised
1Includes trucks, truck trailers, buses, automobiles, aircraft, ships, boats, and railroad equipment.
2Includes physical structures for all modes of transportation.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Economic Accounts, Fixed Assests Tables, tables 2.1, 3.1s, and 7.1b, available at www.bea.gov/iTable/index_FA.cfm as of August 30, 2012.
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