North American Cross-Border Freight Falls in 2016
Trucking hauled less U.S. freight to Canada and Mexico in 2016 than 2015, according to March 2 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The total value of cross-border freight carried on all modes — truck, pipeline, vessel and air — fell 3.4% from 2015 to $1.069 trillion.
Trucks carried 65.5% of U.S.-Nafta freight, the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods. Trucks accounted for $362 billion of imports, or 63.3%, and for $338 billion of exports, or 68%.
The value of U.S.-Canada freight flows fell 5.4% to $544 billion in 2016. Trucks carried 60.1% of the value of the freight to and from Canada, followed by rail at 16.2%. The top commodity transported between the United States and Canada in 2016 was vehicles and parts at $106.1 billion; trucks moved 56.4% of the value.
The value of U.S.-Mexico freight fell 1.1% to $525.1 billion. Trucks carried 71% of the value of the freight to and from Mexico, followed by rail at 14.7%.
The top commodity transported between the United States and Mexico in 2016 was electrical machinery at $102.6 billion; trucks hauled 91.6% of the value. The next highest commodity category was vehicles and parts with $43.7 billion in freight moved by rail.
