Surface transportation trade value with NAFTA partners reached second-best mark in March

The value of trade moved via surface transportation modes between the United States and Canada and Mexico in March reached $101.5 billion, the second-highest amount on record and a 6.2 percent gain compared with March 2013 data, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

The value of cargo transported by trucks, vessels, pipelines and air carriers increased in March, but the value of freight moved by rail declined 5.2 percent. Despite the year-over-year decline, "rail remained the second-largest mode," moving 14.8 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA trade in March, followed by vessel at 8.4 percent, pipeline at 8.2 percent and air at 3.7 percent, BTS officials said in a press release.

"The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.1 percent of the total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows," they said.

The value of surface transportation trade moved between the United States and Canada in March rose 4.2 percent to $56.6 billion. Railed import value tumbled 15 percent to $5.6 billion and railed export value declined 1.3 percent to $3.2 billion.

The value of surface transportation trade moved between the United States and Mexico climbed 8.8 percent to $44.9 billion. Railed import value ratcheted up 0.8 percent to 3.9 billion and railed export value rose 7.5 percent to $2.4 billion.