Cross-Border Truck Freight Value Falls Again

U.S.-NAFTA freight value percent change from previous year over the last 24 months. Graphic: U.S. DOT

Trucking and two other freight transportation modes carried less U.S. freight by value with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico in October 2016 compared to the same time a year earlier, according to a new Transportation Department report.

This happened as total cross-border freight moved by all modes fell by 3.6% to $93.2 billion, marking the 21st monthly drop out of the past 22 months beginning in January 2015. The only increase since was a hike of 0.7% this past August.

The value of commodities moved by truck decreased 6.1%, vessel by 7% and air by 12.7%. The value of freight carried on pipeline and rail increased 21.8% and 6.2%, respectively

Trucks carried 65.3% of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continued to be the most heavily used mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $31.9 billion of the $50.3 billion of imports, or 63.4%, and $29 billion of the $42.9 billion of exports, or 67.6%. Rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 15.8% of all U.S.-NAFTA freight.

From October 2015 to October 2016, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows fell 2.5% to $46.5 billion due to decreases in the value of goods moved by vessel, down 31.1%, air 8.8% lower and truck down 3.1%. The value of freight carried on pipeline and rail increased 21.7% and 2.5%, respectively.

During this 12-month period, much of the mineral fuel freight between Texas and Canada shifted from vessel to pipeline as the value of mineral fuel shipments carried by vessel between Texas and Canada decreased while the value of pipeline shipments rose, according to the report. Texas-Canada mineral fuel trade made up about 25.5% of all U.S.-Canada mineral ...Read the rest of this story

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