Study outlines rise and fall of North American freight, rail, trucking
Trucks carried 63.4% of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continue to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners.
The value of commodities moving by truck decreased by 3.1% in December 2015 compared to December 2014, while the value of air freight decreased by 3.5% and rail by 9.3%, according to a report published by United States of Transportation’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Washington, D.C. Vessel freight value decreased 29.9% and pipeline freight decreased 47.4%, mainly due to the lower unit price of crude oil (a component of mineral fuels), which comprises a large share of the commodities carried by these modes.
Trucks carried 63.4% of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continue to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $28 billion of the $46.8 billion of imports (60%) and $26.9 billion of the $40 billion of exports (67.3%).