WASHINGTON — Trade between the U.S. and Canada was down 25.7 percent in September compared to the same month in 2008, settling at $34.8 billion.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the value of imports carried by truck, specifically, was 24.5 percent below September 2008 levels, while the value of exports carried by truck was 15.1 percent lower.

Overall, surface transportation trade between the U.S., Canada and Mexico was 20.2 percent below the September 2008 level.

However, the value of U.S. land transportation trade between the U.S. and its NAFTA partners was up 5.6 percent from August 2009.

Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors, notes BTS.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 88 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land.