WASHINGTON, DC – Trucks and pipelines carried more NAFTA freight in November 2014, compared to November 2013 – the only transportation modes to see gains that month.

According to the TransBorder Freight Data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $96.3 billion in November 2014.

The value of commodities moved by truck grew by the largest percentage of any mode, 1.4 percent, followed by pipeline freight which increased by 1.1 percent. Rail freight decreased by 3.0 percent mainly due to reduced value of trade in vehicles and parts, vessel freight decreased by 3.3 percent mainly due to lower mineral fuel prices, and air freight decreased by 7.1 percent due to a decline in trade of precious stones, aircraft parts, and electrical machinery.

The year-over-year picture in U.S.-Canada freight was quite different, with trucks actually posting a 1.5% decline. In fact, freight moved by sea vessel was the only mode to show an increase, growing 0.2 percent. Freight moved by pipeline decreased 0.3 percent. Rail freight decreased 5.2 percent due to a decline in trade of vehicles and auto parts, electrical machinery, and vegetable oils. Air freight decreased 5.6 percent due to a decline in trade of precious stones, aircraft parts, and electrical machinery.

Trucks carried 55.2 percent of the $52.4 billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail, 16.3 percent; pipeline, 11.8 percent; vessel, 5.7 percent and air, 4.5 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.3 percent of the total U.S.-Canada freight flows.

In November 2014, the top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada was mineral fuels, of which $6.1 billion, or 57.7 percent, moved by pipeline. The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Mexico in November 2014 was electrical machinery, of which $7.5 billion, or 92.7 percent, moved by trucks.