Percent change in value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows by mode. Credit: U.S. DOT

WASHINGTON, DC— Trucks and pipelines carried more NAFTA trade in February 2014 than the same time last year, according to new U.S. Transportation Department figures.

Trucks carried 2.6 percent more goods, as the value of overall U.S. trade with its NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico, rose 1.3 percent since last year, following a 0.2-percent drop in January.

In February, trucks carried 54.4 percent of the $48.9 billion of freight between Canada and the US, followed by rail at 15.6 percent, pipeline at 13.2 percent, vessel at 6.2 percent and air at 4.2 percent.

Compared to the same time in 2013, the value of U.S.-Canada trade by vessel increased the most of any mode, growing 17.6 percent, due to an increase in exports of mineral fuels, while U.S.-Canada trade by pipeline decreased by 1.1 percent.  

The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.1 percent of the total U.S.-Canada freight flows.

The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada was mineral fuels, of which $6.4 billion or 56.3 percent was moved by pipeline.