The amount of freight moved between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement neighbors of Canada and Mexico totaled $89.3 billion in January, according to U.S. Transportation Department figures, down 1.2% from a year earlier,
by Staff
April 6, 2015
Percent change in value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows by mode, January 2014 - January 2015.Graphic: U.S. DOT
2 min to read
Percent change in value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows by mode, January 2014 - January 2015. Graphic: U.S. DOT
The amount of freight moved between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement neighbors of Canada and Mexico totaled $89.3 billion in January, according to U.S. Transportation Department figures, down 1.2% from a year earlier. Rail, truck, and air all carried more freight.
The value of freight flows between the U.S. and its neighbors by all modes decreased, as the value of cross-border trade by pipeline and vessel declined in January due to the reduced prices of mineral fuel shipments.
Ad Loading...
However, compared to a year earlier, the value of commodities moving by rail in January grew by 4.8%, the largest percentage of any mode. Truck freight increased by 3.6% and air rose by 1.3%. Vessel freight dropped 21.8% and pipeline freight fell 22.5%
Trucks carried 62.3% of U.S.-NAFTA freight and were the most heavily used mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $27.4 billion of the $47.5 billion of imports, or 57.7%, and $28.2 billion of the $41.8 billion of exports or 67.6%
Rail remained the second largest mode, moving 14.5% of all U.S.-NAFTA freight.
Ad Loading...
U.S.-Canada Freight
U.S.-Canada freight totaled $48.1 billion in January as three out of five transportation modes (air, truck, and rail) carried more U.S.-Canada freight than in January 2014. Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-Canada trade by air increased the most of any mode, growing by 3.4%. Truck freight increased by 2.7% and rail rose by 1.8%. Vessel freight decreased 19% and pipeline fell 22.5%
Trucks carried 55% of the $48.1 billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail at 15.7%, pipeline at 11.6%, vessel at 5.8% and air at 4.8%.
In January 2015, the top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada was mineral fuels, of which $5.6 billion, or 56.5%, moved by pipeline.
U.S.-Mexico Freight
Ad Loading...
U.S.-Mexico freight totaled $41.2 billion in January as two out of five transportation modes, rail and truck, carried more U.S.-Mexico freight than in January 2014. Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-Mexico rail freight rose 9.4%, the largest percentage increase of any mode. Freight carried by truck increased by 4.4%. Air freight decreased by 2.6%. Pipeline freight dropped 23.1% and vessel freight fell 23.5%.
Trucks carried 70.8% of the $41.2 billion of freight to and from Mexico, followed by rail at 13.1%.
The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Mexico in January 2015 was electrical machinery, of which $7 billion, or 92.2%, moved by trucks.
When the unexpected happens, how you react to, and deal with operational blind spots is critical. Here’s how to keep you recovery on track, when nothing is normal.
As fleets adopt artificial intelligence for routing, maintenance, and load matching, new security risks are emerging. Learn where the vulnerabilities are and how to put the right controls in place.
CargoNet reports fewer supply chain crime events to start 2026. But losses hold steady as organized crime shifts tactics toward impersonation schemes and high-value goods.
Heavy Duty Trucking is searching for forward-looking leaders at trucking fleets as nominations for HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators 2026. Deadline is May 15.
Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.
