Dr. Kent, for the third straight year, was the primary contributor to the Freight and Supply Chain Chapter, posted here, of the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics 2024 Annual Report. Some of Chapter’s highlights include:
- The U.S. freight system moved 20.1 billion tons of goods valued at $18.7 trillion in 2023. Trucking remained king, hauling 64.5% of the weight and 72.5% of the value.
- Short hauls? Trucking dominated trips under 100 miles, accounting for 75% of ton-miles. Long hauls? Rail took the lead on routes between 1,000–2,000 miles, with 37.8% of ton-miles.
- In 2023, U.S.–Mexico trade rose 2.4% to $798 billion, overtaking U.S.–Canada trade ($772.9 billion) as the top bilateral partner for the first time. Meanwhile, U.S.–China trade fell 16.8%, underscoring evolving trade patterns.
- The Liner Shipping Connectivity Index ranked the Port of New York and New Jersey as the top U.S. port for connectivity in 2023, with a score of 517—up from 506 in 2022. Meanwhile, West Coast ports like Los Angeles and Long Beach saw declines to 276 and 233, respectively, reflecting shifting dynamics.
- East Coast ports handled 63.8 billion kilograms of Asian imports in 2023, surpassing the West Coast’s 55.0 billion kilograms for the second straight year. Over the past decade, East Coast ports achieved a CAGR of 5.5%, while West Coast ports saw a decline of −0.3%, emphasizing a long-term shift in containerized trade flows.
While this year’s data showcases remarkable trends, next year’s story may reflect ripples from recent disruptions: potential East Coast dockworker strikes, vessel re-routings avoiding the Red Sea, and drought-related navigation constraints on the Panama Canal. The U.S. coastal gap could narrow—or shifting trade patterns may surprise us again.
For a deep dive, the full report and a treasure trove of transportation statistics across all modes are available at https://www.bts.gov/tsar and https://data.bts.gov/, respectively.