local traffic

Nearly half of all domestic overnight air shipments reached their destinations without ever traveling very far from home, according to the Colography Group's 2002 national survey of shippers, which was released last month. The survey results showed that 49.3 percent of all domestic overnight air shipments (by volume) in 2002 traveled less than 350 miles, and 31 percent of all volumes moved within a 150-mile radius. Less than 20 percent of all overnight air volumes moved more than 1,200 miles.

The Colography Group study, now in its 11th year, is based on interviews with more than 30,000 transportation and logistics decision makers, the company said. According to Colography, the survey looks at 144 U.S. industry groups and five employment categories that range from small businesses to divisions of multinational corporations.

Other findings in the most recent study:

• Nearly 45 percent of second-day air shipments moved less than 350 miles, while only 19.8 percent moved more than 1,200 miles.
• More than 65 percent of all overnight air shipments in 2002 were delivered by noon the next day.
• Overnight letters accounted for nearly 55 percent of all overnight air volume in 2002. FedEx Express, Fed Ex's air unit, controlled 44 percent of the domestic overnight air letter market; UPS was second at 30.6 percent.
• Packages weighing between 2 and 70 pounds accounted for 39.7 percent of second-day air traffic. Letters accounted for 36.3 percent.
• UPS controlled 63.4 percent of total U.S. ground parcel volumes in 2002. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) was next with 19.0 percent, and FedEx Ground was third with 12.1 percent.
• UPS's share of the traffic in ground parcels weighing two pounds or less was 45 percent (by volume), with USPS second with a 36.3-percent share. More than 52 percent of all ground parcel deliveries were made within 350 miles, and 32 percent of all deliveries were made within 150 miles.

Ted Scherck, president of the Colography Group, said the survey results backed up clients' assertions that they valued fast service. "Our interviews tell us that buyers of overnight air services find compelling value —largely in the form of compressed delivery cycles and lower inventory costs—in having their goods in hand as quickly as possible. They also tell us that air freight remains the most viable option for cargo shipped more than 600 miles and requiring delivery before noon," Scherck said in a statement.