Nafta Freight Value Falls 5.8% in March; Trucking Mode Decline Was Slightest

The total value of U.S. cross-border freight with Canada and Mexico in March fell 5.8% to $90.5 billion from March 2015, while the value of commodities moving by truck declined 1.1%, the smallest decrease of any mode.

All five transportation modes carried less U.S. freight by value with North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico compared with March 2015, according to the TransBorder Freight Data released May 26 by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. 

Trucks carried 67.3% of U.S.-Nafta freight and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode. Trucks accounted for $31.4 billion of the $48 billion of imports (65.3%) and $29.5 billion of the $42.5 billion of exports (69.4%).

The value of freight carried on other modes declined by larger percentages than truck: rail 7.7%; air 9%; vessel 31.9%; and pipeline 33.2%. A drop in the price of crude oil played a key role in the large declines in the dollar value of products shipped by vessel and pipeline. Crude oil (a component of mineral fuels) comprises a large share of the commodities carried by these modes. 

Rail remained the second-largest mode by value, moving 15.5% of all U.S.-Nafta freight, followed by vessel, 4.5%; air, 4%; and pipeline, 3.6%. 

Trucks carried 62.1% of the value of freight to and from Canada and 72.7% of the value of freight to and from Mexico.