Bio Path : Freight Facts and Figures Winter 2020 Update

Wednesday, January 8 - The Freight Facts and Figures winter update was released today with new freight flow estimates from the Freight Analysis Framework (FAF). According to the latest FAF estimates, the leading commodities by weight are bulk goods, including fossil fuel products (termed 'other fossil fuel products') such as natural gas, coke, and asphalt; gravel; gasoline; cereal grains; and crude petroleum. The leading commodities by value, with the exception of energy products, are high value-per-ton goods, such as electronics, motorized vehicles, mixed freight (largely food), gasoline, and machinery.

The top 10 commodities by weight accounted for 68.0 percent of total tonnage, but only 25.8 percent of the value of goods moved in 2018. In contrast, the top 10 commodities by value accounted for 36.8 percent of total tonnage, but 57.9 percent of total value of goods moved that year. Values are shown in 2012 dollars, the first year of the dataset.

Freight Facts and Figures is a Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) compilation of data and statistical charts and tables about freight transportation in the United States. This interactive digital product provides a snapshot of freight movement; the extent, condition, and performance of the freight transportation system; the economic implications of freight movement; and the safety, energy, and environmental impacts of freight transportation.

The new digital version features:

• interactive charts and tables,
• downloadable data in csv format,
• improved navigation, and
• more frequent updates.

Rather than updating and printing Freight Facts and Figures once each year, BTS now updates individual charts and tables as soon as new information becomes available from their respective sources. Contacts: Press: Dave Smallen: [phone], [e-mail] . For technical information and questions: Mindy Liu: [phone], [e-mail] .