The change in the value of U.S.-Canada freight moved by truck increased the most of any mode during October, growing 4.7% over the same period last year.
Freight moved by air increased 1.7% and rail by 0.7%. Freight moved by pipeline decreased 2.6% and vessel fell 14.7%, mainly due to lower mineral fuel prices.
Trucks carried 54.8% of the $58.6 billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail at 16.1%, pipeline at 12.8%, vessel at 4.9% and air at 4.5% The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.7% of the total U.S.-Canada freight flows.
Overall, the amount of freight moved between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners of Canada and Mexico increased in October compared to the same time a year ago, hitting the highest level on record.
New U.S. Transportation Department figures show it totaled $108.2 billion, 4.9% higher than during the same month in 2013, and is also 4.9% higher during the first 10 months of 2014 than during the same time period the previous year.
The value of commodities moving by truck grew by the largest percentage of any mode, 7.2%. Airfreight increased 4.9% followed by rail at 2.4%. Pipeline and vessel shipments declined 1.2% and 7.6%, respectively.