North American Transborder Freight Rose to $158 Billion
Logistics operators and cross-border shippers saw total freight values jump 18.8% in July 2026 compared to prior-year figures.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Transportation
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North American transborder freight reached $157.6 billion in July 2026, marking an 18.8% increase over July 2025. This surge in cross-border trade activity highlights shifting demand across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico during the mid-summer period.
Why it matters
The broad increase in transborder freight indicates heightened integration and activity levels within the North American supply chain. For operators, this growth trend reflects changing regional trade flows and capacity requirements for those moving goods across these borders.
Total transborder freight value hit $157.6 billion in July 2026, an 18.8% increase compared to July 2025. Freight moved by trucks totaled $108.2 billion, representing a 23.9% increase, while air freight fell 3.8% to $5.9 billion.
The details
Trade between the U.S. and Mexico reached $94.8 billion, a 27.5% increase, while U.S.-Canada freight rose 7.8% to $62.8 billion. Trucks remained the dominant mode of transportation for cross-border goods, handling $108.2 billion in value, significantly outpacing the $15.6 billion moved by rail. Pipelines and vessels moved $10.4 billion and $9.9 billion respectively, while air freight volume was the sole segment to decline, dropping 3.8% to $5.9 billion.
Timeline
July 2025 served as the baseline month for year-over-year freight comparisons.
July 2026 was the measurement period for the $157.6 billion total freight value.
Market Landscape
This activity follows established reporting patterns from the transborder freight data program. The current results demonstrate a departure from earlier trends by showing a sharp preference for ground-based freight over air shipping across North American trade corridors.
Operators managing cross-border logistics should monitor trucking capacity as land-based freight continues to grow faster than other modes. Assess current contract rates and lead times against the 23.9% surge in truck-based freight activity observed this period.
The takeaway
The data confirms a strong reliance on ground transportation for regional trade growth. Logistics managers should track regional modal shifts as a primary indicator for potential bottlenecks in trucking and rail capacity for upcoming quarters.
Further reading
For broader trends in logistics capacity, see our Transportation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by American Journal of Transportation | AJOT | 1-800-599-6358.
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