Blockades put a dent in cross-border truck traffic

Four important Canadian border crossings to the United States were blockaded by protestors in February 2022, ranging from a three-day blockade at Pacific Highway crossing, just south of Vancouver, to 18 days at Coutts, Alberta.

Despite the blockades, the four crossings  accounted for almost one-third of the 385,404 trucks entering Canada or returning from the United States in February.

Over half of the $850 billion in total trade Canada conducted with the United States on a customs basis in 2021 was transported by truck.

Inbound truck traffic at Ambassador Bridge down by over one-quarter

Canada-bound truck traffic over its most important port of entry to the United States, the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, fell by just over one-quarter (-27%) from February 2021 to 79,314 in February 2022, in the wake of a six-day blockade.

Although the Ambassador Bridge plays a key role in the shipment of automobiles and parts between Canada and the United States, it is also an important border crossing for trade in consumer goods. In February 2022, exports of motor vehicles and parts were down 19.4% year over year, while consumer goods exports were 19.1% lower. Imports of motor vehicles and parts actually increased at the Ambassador Bridge border crossing in February 2022 (+3.9%) year over year, while consumer goods (-15.4%) led the decline in imports.

Coutts sees largest percentage decline in inbound truck traffic

Although not nearly as busy as the Ambassador Bridge crossing, the largest percentage drop occurred at Coutts, Alberta, where the number of trucks entering or returning to Canada fell by almost half (-48%) year over year to 5,501 in February 2022, in the wake of the 18-day blockade.

Meat products are by far the top export by truck from Alberta to the United States. In February 2022, meat product exports were down 17.8% year over year at the Coutts border crossing. Fresh fruit, nuts and vegetables, and pulse crops, the leading products imported via Coutts, were down 43.6% year over year.

Almost one-third fewer trucks entered or returned through Emerson

The number of trucks entering or returning to Canada at Emerson, Manitoba, just south of Winnipeg fell by almost one-third (-29%) year over year to 12,153 in February. Exports of pharmaceutical and medicinal products, the top product exported by truck through Emerson, were down 50.6% in February 2022 compared with the same month a year earlier. Imports through Emerson actually rose in February 2022 (+10.3%) year over year. Industrial machinery, equipment and parts were the top products imported through Emerson in 2021.

Imports and exports through Pacific Highway Crossing little changed

At the Pacific Highway Crossing, the number of trucks entering or returning to Canada fell 6% year-over-year to 27,440 in February. The blockades had little apparent impact on north- and south-bound trade through the Pacific Highway crossing in February 2022 compared with the same month a year earlier. Fresh fruit, nuts and vegetables, and pulse crops were the top products imported while lumber and other sawmill products were the top exports in February.

Inbound truck traffic at Sarnia up by almost one-third

Much like they have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian businesses adapted to the latest challenge by diverting truck traffic to other border crossings to get their goods to market. For example, the border crossing at Sarnia, about 100 km north of Windsor, saw a 29% year-over-year increase in truck traffic entering or returning to Canada in February, off-setting over half (57%) of the Windsor decline.

As a result of trucks being diverted to other border crossings, the overall impact of the blockades was less pronounced, and the total number of trucks entering or returning to Canada from the United States was down 5% year over year in February.

At the end of the day, the blockades may not have impacted the trucking industry as much as other supply chain challenges, such as ongoing driver shortages, rising fuel costs and part shortages, such as the computer chips needed to make automobiles.