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Reduction in April 2020 Freight Movement Largest since 2009 Recession

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, fell 7.7% in April from March, falling for the third consecutive month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS). From April 2019 to April 2020, the index fell 10.0% compared to a rise of 2.7% from April 2018 to April 2019 and a rise of 8.0% from April 2017 to April 2018 (Tables 1, 2, and 2A).

Air Cargo Down 15% Between the U.S. and Foreign Points, March 2020 (Preliminary)

U.S. and foreign airlines carried 15.2% less cargo by weight between the U.S. and foreign points in March 2020 than in March 2019, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by large air carriers.

 

March 2020 cargo numbers to and from the U.S. by world geographic areas (by weight):

  • Total to and from the U.S.: 403 thousand tons, down 15.2% from March 2019 (475T tons)
  • Europe: 102 thousand tons, down 25.0% from March 2019 (135T tons)
  • Latin America: 46 thousand tons, down 29.2% from March 2019 (65T tons)
  • Asia (including China): 229 thousand tons, down 6.4% from March 2019 (245T tons)
  • China: 66 thousand tons, up 2.0% from March 2019 (66T tons)
  • Canada: 9 thousand tons, down 8.1% from March 2019 (10T tons)

 

March 2020 North American Transborder Freight Numbers

Transborder freight between the U.S. and other North American countries (Canada and Mexico) in March 2020:

  • Total Transborder freight: $98.8 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, down 7.9% compared to March 2019.
  • Most-used mode: Trucks moved $62.6 billion of freight, down 7.1% compared to March 2019.
  • Second most-used mode: Railways moved $15.0 billion of freight, down 7.7% compared to March 2019.