WASHINGTON, DC – More freight moved across the Canada-U.S. and U.S.-Mexico borders in July compared to the same time last year and most of that freight was moved by trucks, according to figures from the U.S. Transportation Department.

U.S.-NAFTA freight increased by 8.5 percent in July 2014 compared to July 2013 and totaled $101.1 billion. July was the fifth month in a row to go over the $100-billion mark.

Trucks carried 52.7 percent of the $55.2 billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail at 15.2 percent, pipeline at 14.8 percent, vessel at 6.3 percent and air at four percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.8 percent of the total U.S.-Canada freight flows.

Trucks carried three-fifths of U.S.-NAFTA freight and are the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico. Trucks carried 59.2 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight in July 2014, accounting for $30.5 billion of exports and $29.3 billion of imports.

From July 2013 to July 2014, there was a $7.9-billion increase in freight value and truck freight contributed the most with $4.9 billion, followed by rail with $1.4 billion. The increase is due to a rise in truck freight between the U.S. and Canada, which saw a $2.2 billion increase and the U.S. and Mexico, which increased by $2.5 billion.

Year-to-year, the percent change in the value of U.S.-Canada freight moved by vessel increased the most of any mode, growing 30.9 percent, followed by a pipeline increase of 10.7-percent. Freight moved by rail increased by 8.5 percent, truck by eight percent, and air by two percent.