Large Scale Central

U.S. Road and Freight Rail breaks all-time record

General Discussion
#1

http://www.supplychaindigital.com/global_logistics/us-road-and-freight-rail-breaks-all-time-record

Kevin Scarpati said:
Logistics U.S. Road and Freight Rail breaks all-time record North American surface trade numbers reach monthly all-time high

1 Jun 2011 Kevin Scarpati

Who says we’re still in a recession?

Not the freight transportation industry. According to numbers released yesterday by the U.S. Department of Transportation, trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico reached $80.8 billion in March of 2011, the highest monthly trade figure since NAFTA began collecting data in 1994.

While inflating transportation costs are partially to blame for the increase in trucking and freight rail traffic, the $80 billion spent on North American land transportation beat the previous high in April of 2008 by 8.8 percent. March’s numbers were also more than 15 percent higher than the $70 billion spent on surface trade in the same month of last year.

The figures were revealed by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, with U.S. surface trade including road and rail freight, pipeline and mail shipments. According to the report, U.S. surface transportation trade has increased by 58.3 percent in value since March of 2009.

The figures could be the start of the trucking and rail freight explosion that’s expected to occur over the next decade. As we reported last week, The US Freight Transportation Forecast is projecting trucking freight tonnage to grow 24 percent by 2022.

While freight rail’s numbers figure to grow more modestly, the long-term outlook for freight rail appears bright. In one of our articles last week, ton-mile growth could be in the 80 percent range by 2035 to 2040.

#2

Does any one know if Mexico has a major shipping port? I’m wondering how much of that transportation is China imports through the USA to Mexico and points south? Lord knows there isn’t much manufacturing in the USA for shipment that direction. Except maybe scrap steel taken to Mexico to be returned to the USA as a product. I was in the local NAPA store where a local farmer was getting a replacement bearing for a trailer. The bearing coming out was made in the USA, the replacement was made in Mexico. Just a simple wheel bearing.

#3

Manzanillo is Mexico’s busiest port, as measured by total tonnage and volume of containerized cargo. The port is connected by Ferromex rail lines to Guadalajara and Mexico City. It is located on the West Coast. A few miles north of there is wher they filmed the movie “10”. Been to that resort (Las Hadas).

#4
mike miller said:
Manzanillo is Mexico's busiest port, as measured by total tonnage and volume of containerized cargo. The port is connected by Ferromex rail lines to Guadalajara and Mexico City. It is located on the West Coast. A few miles north of there is wher they filmed the movie "10". Been to that resort (Las Hadas).
A few years ago before the economic Hindenburg there was some very serious talk about building a super-port at Mazanillo on the west coast, and having a direct rail connection to the KCS and UP thru Texas, where trains would run non-stop (no border check) cross country. This would bypass the current bottlenecks at Los Angeles while also providing a shorter sea route from China. The rail distances between LA to the heartland and Mazanillo are roughly the same so the time distance their is comperable but the sea port change could shave off 2 days of transport 9dont ask me how, I suspect less regulatory hastles). The economy going phooey has put the kibitz on it for now, but I suspect once things get better this project will start up again.
#5

It’s certainly keeping me busy…or at least, busier then I want to be…:wink:

#6
Ken Brunt said:
It's certainly keeping me busy.................or at least, busier then I want to be............;)
Me too. :)