Freight Facts and Figures 2013

Figure 4-2. Productivity in Selected Transportation Industries: 1987-2011

Between 1987 and 2011, output-per-hour worked more than doubled in line-haul railroading. (Line-haul railroads do not include switching and terminal operations or short-distance/local railroads.) Long-distance, general-freight trucking grew by 39 percent over the same period. However, in recent years trucking has grown more rapidly. (Long-distance, general-freight trucking establishments exclude local trucking and truck operators that require specialized equipment, such as flatbeds, tankers, or refrigerated trailers.)

Figure 4-2

[PDF 16KB]

Data represented in the figure.

Table in Excel format

(Output per Employee,¹ Index: 1987 = 100)

Output per hour worked	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Air transportation (R)	100	100	91	90	94	100	89	97	103	107	107	104	117	123	119	131	143	159	171	193	202	221	214	209	209
Line-haul railroads	100	108	115	119	128	140	145	150	156	167	170	173	179	194	207	228	240	245	236	249	236	246	237	256	(R) 249
General freight trucking, long-distance	100	101	100	104	108	114	112	115	112	111	117	116	116	119	120	125	128	127	129	128	130	130	122	135	(R) 139
Postal Service	100	99	99	104	103	105	108	108	108	106	110	112	113	116	117	117	119	121	122	122	123	120	(R) 121	(R) 123	(R) 125

Key: R = revised.

¹Based on the number of paid hours. Real gross domestic product (GDP) in the business and nonfarm business sectors is the basis of the output components of the productivity measures. These output components are based on and are consistent with the National Income and Product Accounts, including the GDP measure, prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Notes:

In 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revised its data for air transportation output per hour worked to include both full-time and part-time workers. Prior to 2009, BLS assumed all air transportation workers were full-time employees.

Source:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Industry Productivity, available at www.bls.gov/lpc/ as of October 2, 2013.

 

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