TORONTO, ON — Throughout December, truckers are somewhat like Santa’s elves: busy bringing presents to where they need to be. But this past December, they were busier than usual, hauling 29 percent more than they were the same time last year, according to TransCore Link Logistics’ Canadian Freight Index.

Even with two fewer shipping days, there was 11 percent more freight in December than November and there was 29 percent more freight in December 2013 than the previous year.

“Last year started and ended with noteworthy load volumes. Annual volumes for 2013 hit a historic high for the month of January followed by an up-and-down trend for subsequent months before ending strong with a record-breaking high for the month of December,” TransCore Link Logistics stated.

Sixty-seven percent of load volumes crossed the Canada-U.S. border and intra-Canada postings made up 28 percent.

Cross-border loads originating in the United States destined for provinces within Canada climbed 16 percent year-over-year and cross-border loads originating in Canada destined to the United States soared by 50 percent year-over-year.

Most loads coming to Canada from the U.S. came from Ohio, Illinois, Texas, California and Pennsylvania.

Here’s where the loads were going:

• 56 percent of cross-border loads were going to Ontario,
• 26 percent of cross-border loads were going to Western Canada,
• 16 percent of cross-border loads were going to Quebec,
• 2 percent of cross-border loads were going to Atlantic Canada,
• 41 percent of intra-Canada loads were going to Western Canada,
• 35 percent of intra-Canada loads were going to Ontario,
• 21 percent of intra-Canada loads were going to Quebec,
• 3 percent of intra-Canada loads were going to Atlantic Canada.