U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #602: December 21, 2009
Freight Statistics by Mode, 2007 Commodity Flow Survey
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 
Supporting Information
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 |
|
Note: 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. |
Return to 2009 Facts of the Week
|