ton-mile

American  

[tuhn-mahyl] / ˈtʌnˈmaɪl /

noun

1. a unit of freight transportation measurement equivalent to a ton of freight transported one mile.

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Other Word Forms

• ton-mileage noun

Etymology

Origin of ton-mile

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Railroads carry 43 percent of the nation’s freight as measured by the ton-mile, according to their trade group, the Association of American Railroads.

From BusinessWeek • Feb. 7, 2012

What the three were seeking was the right to carry 3� mail at 18�� per ton-mile, which is the rate at which 3� mail is currently being carried by the scheduled airlines.

From Time Magazine Archive

Costs for the operation: about 15� ton-mile, v.

From Time Magazine Archive

Air freight's big millstone is still its expense: rates average a costly 11.1� per ton-mile v. only 1.3� by rail and 6.3� by truck.

From Time Magazine Archive

The cost of freight per ton-mile fell from 23/100 cent in 1887 to 8/100 cent in 1898; since then the rate has slightly risen, but keeps well below 1/10 cent per ton-mile.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 4 "Grasshopper" to "Greek Language" by Various