Value of U.S. freight with NAFTA partners climbed to $1.2 trillion in 2014

The overall value of freight with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners rose 4.5 percent to $1.2 trillion, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced on March 18.

Four of five transportation modes -- truck, rail, pipeline and vessel -- carried more U.S. freight with NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico by value in 2014 than in 2013. Trucks were used the most, carrying nearly 60 percent of the U.S. NAFTA freight.

The value of commodities moving by pipeline recorded the biggest increase, 12.5 percent, despite a decline in the cost of petroleum products. Truck increased 4.5 percent, rail increased 1.5 percent, vessel increased 0.2 percent and air decreased 0.2 percent.

Freight with Canada climbed 3.8 percent, and trucks carried more than half of these commodities, although this transportation mode’s share of total freight with Canada has declined by 6.6 percent since 2004, the first year the Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported data for all modes.

Michigan led all states in freight with Canada in 2014. The top commodity transported between the U.S. and Canada in 2014 was mineral fuels, which were moved by pipelines.

From 2013 to 2014, total U.S.-Mexico freight rose 5.5 percent, with trucks carrying the greatest percentage of goods. Texas led all states in freight with Mexico in 2014. The top commodity transported between the two countries was electrical machinery.