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Trucking Adds to 10.2% Gain in U.S.-NAFTA Freight Movements

U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $103 billion in June as all five major transportation modes carried more cargo by value than during June 2013, according to new U.S. Transportation Department figures.

by Staff
August 28, 2014
Trucking Adds to 10.2% Gain in U.S.-NAFTA Freight Movements

Percent change in value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows by mode:  June 2013 - June 2014. Credit: U.S. DOT

2 min to read


Percent change in value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows by mode: June 2013 - June 2014. Credit: U.S. DOT

U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $103 billion in June as all five major transportation modes carried more cargo by value than during June 2013, according to new U.S. Transportation Department figures.

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Of the 10.2% increase, the biggest gain so far this year, truck freight contributed the most, $4.4 billion, followed by pipeline, $2.1 billion.

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The trucking increase was predominately due to an increase in the value of U.S.-Mexico truck freight, which was 64.8% of the total trucking increase, according to the department.

Trucks carry three-fifths of U.S.-NAFTA freight and are the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico. They carried 59.5% of U.S.-NAFTA freight in June 2014, accounting for $29.8 billion of imports and $31.4 billion of exports.  

Rail remained the second largest mode, moving 15% of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel at 8.9%, pipeline at 8%, and air at 3.8%. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.4% of the total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.

U.S.-Canada Freight

During June the value of U.S.-Canada freight by pipeline increased the most of any mode, compared to the same time a year earlier, growing 35.1% Freight by vessel increased by 24.7%, air by 9.5%, truck by 5.3% and rail by 1.4%.

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Trucks carried 53.7% of the $57.9 billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail at 15.5%, pipeline at 13.3%, vessel at 6.2% and air at 4.5%. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.5% of the total U.S.-Canada freight flows.

The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada was mineral fuels, of which, 59.8% moved by pipeline.

U.S.-Mexico Freight

The value of U.S.-Mexico freight by pipeline increased the most of any mode in June compared to the same time in 2013, growing 36.9%, due to an increase in mineral fuels exports, although pipeline remained the smallest of the major modes. Freight with Mexico by vessel rose 16.1%, followed by truck at 10.6%, rail at 9.2% and air at 1.2% 

Trucks carried 66.9% of the $45.1 billion of freight to and from Mexico, followed by rail at 14.3%, vessel at 12.3%, air at 2.9% and pipeline at 1.1%. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.2% of the total U.S.-Mexico freight flows.

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The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Mexico in June was electrical machinery, of which, 91.5% moved by trucks.

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