WASHINGTON, D.C. – Trucks hauled 9.3 percent more freight between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico in December 2014 than in December 2013, according to the U.S. Transportation Department.

NAFTA freight totalled $95.8 billion in December 2014, an increase of 5.4 percent from a year earlier, as four out of five transportation modes carried more freight

For all of 2014, the value of freight between the U.S., Canada and Mexico increased 4.5 percent from 2013, compared to a gain of 2.7 percent in 2013 from 2012.

In December 2014 compared a year earlier, the value of commodities moving by truck grew by the largest percentage of any mode, 9.3 percent. Rail freight increased by 8.3 percent, air rose by 6.3 percent, and pipeline grew by four percent. Vessel freight decreased by 22.6 percent due to lower mineral fuel prices.

Trucks carried 59.2 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight and were the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $28.4 billion of the $52.5 billion of imports, 54 percent, and $28.4 billion of the $43.3 billion of exports, or 65.6 percent.

U.S.-Canada Freight

U.S.-Canada freight totaled $53.1 billion in December 2014 as three out of five transportation modes – rail, truck, and pipeline – carried more U.S.-Canada freight than in December 2013. Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows by all modes increased by 4.7 percent.

The value of U.S.-Canada trade by rail increased the most of any mode, growing by 8.1 percent. Truck freight increased by 5.2 percent and pipeline rose by 2.6 percent.

Trucks carried 52.6 percent of the $53.1-billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail at 16 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.2 percent of the total U.S.-Canada freight flows.