Detroit, Laredo Top U.S. Gateways for Trade Moved by Truck
Detroit and Laredo were top ports for the value of trade moved by truck in 2006, according to a new Bureau of Transportation Statistics report on North American freight transportation. BTS reported Detroit was the gateway for $64 billion in merchandise carried by truck to Canada and $51 billion from Canada, almost double the value of the goods that passed through Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y., ranked second on the U.S.-Canadian border.
From Laredo, $34 billion in merchandise was exported and $44 billion was imported from Mexico, and this was almost twice the value of the goods that passed through El Paso, Texas, ranked second on the U.S.-Mexican border. In 2006, the top 10 ports on the northern border handled 92 percent of the truck freight crossing to and from Canada. The top 10 ports on the southern border handled 97 percent of the truck freight crossing to and from Mexico.
BTS said trucks remain the dominant mode for transporting U.S.-North American freight -- carrying $534 billion, or 62 percent, of the total value in 2006.