From April 2015 to April 2016, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows fell 6% to $45.9 billion, as all modes of transportation carried a lower value of U.S.-Canada freight than a year earlier, due in large part to double-digit drops in crude oil movements, according to the US DOT.
For the month, the top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada by all modes was vehicles and parts, of which 54.6% moved by truck. Trucks carried 60.8% of the value of the freight to and from Canada while rail carried the second most of any mode, 17%.
Overall, trucks carried more U.S. freight by value with both its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners in April 2016 compared to the same time a year ago, but declines in all other freight modes led to a 3.2% decrease in the total current dollar value of cross-border freight to $90.4 billion.
In total, trucks carried 66.8% of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners.