WASHINGTON, DC – Trade between U.S. and its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, rose by 6.2 percent year-over-year in March, totalling $101.5 billion, according to a new U.S. Transportation report.

Trucks carried 7.2 percent more trade between Canada and the U.S. in March. Rail, on the other hand carried 10.5 percent less trade because of a 15-percent drop in imports caused by less trade of vehicles and parts.

Overall, trucks carried 54.3 percent of the $56.6 billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail at 15.4 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.7 percent of the total U.S.-Canada freight flows.

U.S-NAFTA trade has increased year-over-year in eight of the last nine months, interrupted by a 0.2-percent drop in January, caused by severe weather in the northern states and along the U.S.-Canada border.

In March, trucks carried 60.1 percent of U.S.-NAFTA trade, accounting for $31.2 billion of exports and $29.8 billion of imports. 

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) started in 1994 to create free trade between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.