Pipelines are another largely unseen transporter of freight.  In general pipelines are used to transport fuels such as natural gas or crude oil. There is very limited public information available about the location, length, and use of pipeline infrastructure in the United States. The rationale for limited information is framed around security issues that result from the largely unsecured nature of the US pipeline infrastructure.  Additionally, available data is old and misses the recent trend of hydraulic fracturing and new natural gas pipeline construction. Therefore, this section will be limited to the jobs and businesses associated with pipeline infrastructure.

Figure 1: Pipeline Businesses in the MAFC

Source: Esri Business Analyst, 2011

Pipeline transportation employs more people than air freight transportation, but the total employment is still very small relative to trucking.  Pipeline businesses in Figure 1 and totaled in Table 1 include pipeline transportation for crude oil, natural gas, refined petroleum products, and all other pipeline transportation.

Table 1: Pipeline Transportation Businesses and Employment in the MAFC

State	Pipeline Employment	Pipeline Businesses	Total State Employment	Total Business Count
Illinois	1,224	186	5,884,453	476,575
Indiana	522	101	2,938,335	222,320
Iowa	305	89	1,607,190	136,378
Kansas	998	171	1,407,272	123,790
Kentucky	515	54	1,819,898	153,924
Michigan	351	118	4,305,125	371,368
Minnesota	290	85	2,888,004	221,993
Missouri	433	89	2,883,801	239,690
Ohio	812	121	5,634,785	413,878
Wisconsin	280	67	3,063,309	244,656
MAFC	5,730	1,081	32,432,172	2,604,572

Source: Esri Business Analyst, 2011