In February 2018, all modes of transportation moved $94.0 billion of freight between the U.S. and its North American counterparts, Canada and Mexico. The top two modes used were truck and rail. Trucks moved freight valued at $59.5 billion, up 8.9 percent compared to February 2017. Rail moved freight valued at $13.6 billion, down 2.9 percent during the same period. The other $20.9 billion was transported on other modes.
The $59.5 billion in North American freight hauled by truck was divided between the two borders: $27.2 billion on the U.S.-Canada border and $32.3 billion on the U.S. Mexico border. Trucks carried 63.3 percent of total U.S.-North American freight, 57.3 percent of U.S.-Canada freight, and 69.3 percent of U.S.-Mexico freight. Compared to 2017, U.S.-Canada truck freight rose 6.2 percent while U.S.-Mexico truck freight rose 11.2 percent.
The top three states for truck freight moved through their border ports, equaling 75.6 percent of total truck freight, were:
Texas: $24.1 billion
Michigan: $13.6 billion
New York: $7.3 billion
The busiest three truck border ports, equaling 47.4 percent of total truck freight, were:
Laredo, TX: $14.2 billion
Detroit, MI: $9.2 billion
El Paso, TX: $4.8 billion
The $13.6 billion in North American rail freight was divided between the two borders: $7.6 billion on the U.S.-Canada border and $6.0 billion on the U.S.-Mexico border. Trains carried 14.5 percent of total U.S.-North American freight, 16.1 percent of U.S.-Canada freight, and 12.9 percent of U.S.-Mexico freight. Compared to 2017, U.S.-Canada rail freight rose 1.4 percent while U.S.-Mexico rail freight declined 7.9 percent.