Trade using surface transportation between the U.S., Canada and Mexico was 12 percent higher in October 2011 than in October 2010, totaling $79 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

The DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade in October among the North Americican Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners rose 28.7 percent over the past two years and by 65.9 percent over the past 10 years.

Imports in October were up 57.8 percent since October 2001, while exports were up 76.4 percent.

Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones, and other. In October, 86.1 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved via land, 9.6 percent moved by vessel, and 4.3 percent by air.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico increased 1.7 percent in October 2011 from September 2011, but the agency cautions that month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.

U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade both increased compared to October 2010, with U.S.-Canada reaching $46.4 billion, a 14.1 percent increase, and U.S.-Mexico reaching $32.6 billion, a 9.1 percent increase.