May 2017 U.S.-NAFTA freight is up from May 2016, totalling $98.2 billion as all five major transportation modes carried more freight by value with North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico.
The 9.4 percent rise from May 2016 is the seventh consecutive month in which the year-over-year value in current dollars of U.S.-NAFTA freight increased from the same month of the previous year.
Although the monetary value of commodities moved by truck only rose 5 percent, trucks were used to carry 63.4 percent of all U.S. NAFTA freight.
In comparison, the value of commodities moving by pipeline increased 60.3 percent, vessel by 28.4 percent, air by 8.7 percent, and rail by 7.0 percent.
Trucks accounted for $32.2 billion of the $53.5 billion of imports (60.2 percent) and $30.1 billion of the $44.7 billion of exports (67.3 percent).
Rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 15.5 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 6.4 percent; pipeline, 5.7 percent; and air, 3.7 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 84.7 percent of the total value of U.S.-NAFTA freight.
Trucks carried 57.8 percent of the value of the freight to and from Canada and 69.6 percent of the value of freight to and from Mexico.
In May 2017, the top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada was vehicles and parts, of which $5.5 billion, or 55.8 percent, moved by truck. The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Mexico in May 2017 was also vehicles and parts, of which $4.1 billion or 46.6 percent moved by truck
