Modal freight transport required for production of US goods and services

In this paper we develop a model which approximates the upstream supply chains for embodied transportation in products. The sector with the largest embodied freight transportation in consumption is petroleum products followed by government services, construction, and food products. Overall, pipeline contributes 7% to the total embodied freight movement per sector, air transport is generally under 1%, water is 5%, and rail and truck transportation are the most dominant modes (14% each) for domestic freight transportation for the average sector. International water is the largest mode (60%) even compared to domestic modes, and international air contributes less than 1%.

► Largest amount of embodied transportation (ton-km) is in US petroleum products.
► Truck and rail contribute 10% each to total embodied transport in US products.
► Approximately 50% of embodied transport for US products is from international water.