Trucks Hauled Most Nafta Freight by Value in July, US DOT Reports
Trucks continued in July to be the most heavily used mode for moving goods to and from the United States and both its Nafta trade partners, Canada and Mexico, hauling 64.7% of the freight, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported Sept. 22.
Trucks accounted for $27.8 billion, or 62.4%, of the $44.6 billion of imports and $26.4 billion of the $39.1 billion of exports, or 67.4%.
July, however, posted a 10% decrease year-over-year in freight by value, which fell to $83.7 billion, the lowest monthly amount since February 2011. It marked the 19th consecutive month of similar declines, according to U.S DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
All transportation modes except rail carried less cross-border freight by value, BTS said.
The value of commodities moving by rail increased 0.9% while the value of freight carried on other modes decreased: air by 6.4%; truck by 8.8%; vessel by 25.1%; and pipeline by 26.9%. The increase in rail was due in part to a 14% year-over-year increase in the value of vehicles and parts traded with Mexico, BTS said.
