Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was 37 percent higher in March 2010 than in March 2009,
reaching $69.9 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The 37-percent increase is the largest year-over-year rise on record - but freight value in March 2010 still remained 1.2 percent less than the value in March 2008, two years earlier.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 17.6 percent from February to March.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in March was up 33.6 percent compared to 10 years ago.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $42.1 billion in March, up 35.6 percent compared to March 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 19.4 percent higher in March 2010 compared to March 2009, while the value of exports carried by truck was 30.4 percent higher during this period.

U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $27.8 billion in March, up 39.1 percent compared to March 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 39 percent higher in March 2010 than March 2009 while the value of exports carried by truck was 31.6 percent higher.