NAICS 48-49—Transportation and Warehousing
Sector · North American Industry Classification System (2022)
Where 48-49 sits
- 48-49 Transportation and Warehousing
Contains 11 narrower codes
- 481 Air Transportation
- 482 Rail Transportation
- 483 Water Transportation
- 484 Truck Transportation
- 485 Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation
- 486 Pipeline Transportation
- 487 Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation
- 488 Support Activities for Transportation
- 491 Postal Service
- 492 Couriers and Messengers
- 493 Warehousing and Storage
Description
The Transportation and Warehousing sector includes industries providing:
Transportation of passengers Transportation of cargo Warehousing and storage of goods Scenic and sightseeing transportation Support activities related to transportation modes
Establishments in these industries use transportation equipment or transportation-related facilities as productive assets. The type of equipment depends on the mode of transportation.
The primary modes of transportation are:
Air Rail Water Road Pipeline Structure of the Sector
The Transportation and Warehousing sector distinguishes three basic types of activities:
1. Transportation by Mode
Separate subsectors exist for each mode of transportation, including air, rail, water, road, and pipeline transportation.
2. Warehousing and Storage
A dedicated subsector covers establishments engaged in warehousing and storage of goods.
3. Support Activities for Transportation
A separate subsector includes establishments providing support services for transportation operations.
In addition, the sector includes subsectors for:
Scenic and sightseeing transportation Postal services Courier and messenger services Support Activities for Transportation
A separate subsector for support activities exists because:
Many support activities are inherently multimodal, such as freight transportation arrangement, or have significant multimodal aspects. There are common production processes among support activity industries. Transportation Equipment Maintenance and Repair
One support activity identified within the Support Activities for Transportation subsector is the routine repair and maintenance of transportation equipment, including:
Aircraft at airports Railroad rolling stock at railroad terminals Ships at harbors and port facilities
These establishments perform routine maintenance and repair but do not perform:
Complete overhauls or rebuilding of transportation equipment Major equipment conversions or system modifications
Establishments primarily engaged in factory (or shipyard) overhauls, rebuilding, or conversions of:
Aircraft Railroad rolling stock Ships
Are classified in Subsector 336 – Transportation Equipment Manufacturing, according to the type of equipment involved.
Network-Based Operations
Many establishments in this sector operate extensive networks with:
Physical facilities distributed across wide geographic areas Labor forces spread across regions Transportation equipment deployed throughout those networks Warehousing vs. Merchant Wholesaling
Warehousing establishments are distinguished from merchant wholesalers because:
Warehousing establishments store goods but do not sell them. Merchant wholesalers buy and sell goods.