Commodity Flows by Mode in Canada: Estimates from the new Canadian Freight Analysis Framework, 2014
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Released: 2018-03-28
As a trade-reliant nation with a relatively small population, Canada is dependent on an effective transportation system to move goods to markets, across cities and around the world. A new database—the Canadian Freight Analysis Framework—is now available to examine commodity flows by mode of transport, and to assess the transport system's ability to move freight.
Statistics Canada's first iteration of the framework contains freight-flow estimates for the reference year 2014 by type of commodity, weight, and value for the for-hire trucking industry, the railway industry and the airline industry. Subsequent versions of the framework will add the other modes, including pipeline flows, in 2019, with plans to add estimates for marine and for own-account or private trucking thereafter.
In 2014, the Canadian for-hire trucking industry moved 730.6 million tonnes of freight, while each truck shipment travelled an average distance of 626.0 kilometres. The top commodities moved by weight were fuels and minerals. In comparison, the Canadian railway industry transported 310.3 million tonnes of freight. However, each rail car travelled an average distance of 2,173.6 kilometres. By rail, agricultural goods and coal were the top commodities shipped by weight.
In contrast, the total tonnage of air freight in 2014 was much lower at 1.1 million tonnes, and the distance shipped was 1,829.5 kilometres on average. Air freight tends to consist of low-weight, high-value items like perishable goods (for example, live lobster) or precision machinery parts.
In 2014, it was estimated that more than 1.5 million for-hire truck shipments worth $39.1 billion were made between the Toronto and Montréal census metropolitan areas. The majority of these shipments by weight consisted of general freight (41.0%) and food products (21.8%).
The largest interprovincial commodity movements by weight transported by rail were between Alberta and British Columbia, and consisted of commodities such as agricultural goods (14.5 million tonnes) and coal (5.8 million tonnes). In 2014, there were 14.7 million tonnes of fuels shipped by rail in Canada.
Note to readers
The development of this framework was supported by Transport Canada. Showcasing Statistics Canada's strength and expertise in data management and Transport Canada's knowledge of the sector's information needs, the framework provides users with access to high-quality and timely data and statistical analysis that they can use to make informed decisions concerning the Canadian transportation sector.
Data for the framework are being assembled at the lowest levels of geography and commodity detail.
Products
The Canadian Freight Analysis Framework (50-503-X) is now available.
Contact information
For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca).
A description of the methodology used to produce these estimates is available upon request. For more information or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality, contact Michael Scrim (613-222-5600; michael.scrim@canada.ca), Environment, Energy and Transportation Statistics Division.
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