Surface transportation trade between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico gained 32.4 percent in April from the year-ago month
, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Trade using surface transportation reached $65.8 billion in April.

The 32.4-percent increase is the third consecutive monthly increase of at least 24 percent from the previous year, but freight value was still down 11.4 percent from April 2008.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico fell 5.9 percent from March 2010. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. In April, 86.6 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico was up 12.9 percent from five years ago, and up 40.5 percent compared with 10 years ago.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $39.9 billion in April, 32.1 percent higher than April 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was up 21.5 percent from April 2009, while the value of exports carried by truck was 31.6 percent higher during this period.

U.S. land transportation trade with Mexico was at $25.9 billion in April, up 32.8 percent from April 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 31.2 percent higher than April 2009, while the value of exports carried by truck was 28.6 percent higher.