US-bound truck trade falls, but northern exports rise

WASHINGTON — Surface transportation trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico was 7.4 percent higher in January 2008 than the same period last year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade rose 7 percent in January from December.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade alone totaled $42 billion in January, up 8.6 percent compared to January 2007.

However, the value of imports carried by truck — mostly by Canadian carriers — was 1.7 percent lower in January 2008 than January 2007, while the value of exports carried by truck was 11.0 percent higher. Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in January with $5.3 billion.