1. 2007 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) John Fowler Chief, Commodity Flow Branch Service Sector Statistics Division (SSSD) Talking Freight Webinar December 10, 2008

2. 2 2007 CFS - Background 7 Conducted through a major partnership between: U.S. Census Bureau -U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) - Research and Innovative Technology Administration -U.S. Department of Transportation 7 Measures movement of goods in the U.S. by all modes of transportation

3. 3 2007 CFS – Where We Are Now 7 Mailing began December 2006. Follow-up continued through February 2008 7 Each establishment is mailed 4 questionnaires: One in each calendar quarter 7 Editing, data review and resolution began April 2007, continuing through Nov. 2008

4. 4 CFS Sampling 7 Three Stages of Sampling Establishments Weeks of the year Outbound shipments

5. 5 CFS Sampling Establishments: A shipper based survey, using a sample of employer establishments in: Mining Manufacturing Wholesale Selected Retail and Service Industries Also includes warehouse locations of retail and other multi-establishment companies

6. 6 CFS Sampling 7 Sample weeks of the year 4 one-week reporting periods assigned to each establishment 1 reporting period in each calendar quarter Sample covers all 52 weeks of the year

7. 7 CFS Sampling 7 Sample of Outbound Shipments For each reporting period respondents report for a sample of outbound shipments Sample of shipments is selected by respondents using instructions provided Average number of shipments reported = 23 Maximum reported set at 40

8. 8 CFS Data Collection 7 For each sampled shipment, respondents report: Origin, destination Mode of transportation Commodity (5-digit SCTG) Value of shipment Weight of shipment 7 New for 2007 CFS Intermodal Status 3 PL Questions

9. 9 CFS Data Collection 7 Hazardous Material Information Four digit UN/NA (United Nations/North America Code) 7 Export Information Export mode Foreign destination

10. 10 CFS Summary Statistics 7 Ongoing Measures Value, Tons, Ton Miles, Average Miles per Shipment Commodity Shipped Modes of Transportation Origin/Destination Flows 7 New for 2007 CFS By Industry (NAICS) 3 PL Results

11. 11 CFS Publication Levels of CFS Data 7 National 7 Census Regions and Divisions 7 States 7 Selected Metropolitan Areas & Remainder of State areas 7 Hazardous Materials Report 7 Exports

12. 12 2007 CFS: Improvements/Changes From 2002 7 Increase in sample size 2002 CFS: 50,000 2007 CFS: 100,000

13. 13 2007 CFS: Improvements/Changes From 2002 7 Conducted Advance Survey – February 2006 Targeted 45,000 Auxiliary locations (establishments providing support only for parent company – i.e., warehouses) 40,000 Certainty establishments

14. 14 2007 CFS: Improvements/Changes From 2002 7 Cognitive Testing for all Survey Materials Approximately 70 company interviews Improvements to questionnaire, instruction guide, commodity coding manual

15. 15 2007 CFS: Improvements/Changes From 2002 7 New Disclosure Avoidance Methodology Previously relied upon cell suppression. Usually not many, but potential impact on publication schedule was high 2007 CFS will use Noise methodology

16. 16 2007 CFS: Improvements/Changes From 2002 7 Data Dissemination -American FactFinder (AFF) 2007 CFS will use AFF for the first time Print Reports: U.S., Hazardous Materials, Exports

17. 17 2007 CFS Publication Milestones 7 December 9, 2008: Release of Preliminary/Advance Report on AFF 7 December 2009: Release of Final Series Reports

18. 18 2007 CFS 7 Additional Information: www.census.gov/cfs John Fowler 301-763-2108 john.l.fowler@census.gov