Laredo, Texas — The World's Busiest Commercial Land Border Crossing
$300B+ in Annual Trade — The World's Busiest Land Port
If there is one crossing that defines US-Mexico trade, it’s Laredo. The city of Laredo, Texas — paired with Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas — handles more commercial land trade than any other land crossing on earth. Over $300 billion in goods cross the Laredo gateway annually, making it the single most important physical point in the North American supply chain.
Cargo Mexico operates at Laredo every day. Our team manages cross-border trucking, drayage coordination, warehousing, and documentation for the full spectrum of US-Mexico freight moving through this corridor.
#1
World’s busiest land port
24/7
Year-round operations
The Numbers Behind Laredo
These numbers reflect the extraordinary density of trade on the US-Mexico corridor and the degree to which American supply chains depend on this single gateway.
- $300B+ in annual trade value — more than all US-Canada crossings combined
- \#1 commercial land port of entry in the United States by value and volume
- 15,000+ trucks cross daily during peak periods
- 4 international bridges connect Laredo (TX) and Nuevo Laredo (TAM)
- Year-round operations — the crossing doesn’t close for weather or holidays
How Commercial Freight Crosses at Laredo
The crossing process at Laredo follows the standard cross-border trucking relay model used throughout the US-Mexico border:
Step 1: Pre-crossing preparation
Export documentation is completed on the US side — commercial invoice, packing list, and Electronic Export Information (EEI/AES) for qualifying shipments. On the Mexico side, the agente aduanal prepares the pedimento in advance.
Step 2: US carrier delivery to bridge
Crossing Procedures
Moving freight from Mexico into the United States requires US CBP entry filing and, for most goods, an ISF (Importer Security Filing) submitted at least 24 hours before departure.
- Formal or informal CBP entry
- ISF filing for ocean shipments
- USMCA Certificate of Origin for qualifying goods
- FDA/USDA prior notice for food and agricultural products
Exporting to Mexico requires proper export documentation on the US side and a Mexican pedimento filed with SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria) on arrival.
- EEI (Electronic Export Information) when required
- Commercial invoice, packing list, and COVE letter
- Mexico pedimento filed at the crossing or port
- Temporary import under IMMEX when applicable
At most US-Mexico crossings, a relay system is used: a US-licensed carrier brings the trailer to the border, and a Mexico-licensed drayage carrier takes it through.
- Pre-arranged drayage carrier on the Mexico side
- CTPAT-certified carriers for expedited lanes
- Bonded warehousing available near crossing for staging
Frequently Asked Questions
Transit times vary by crossing and shipment type. FAST lane commercial shipments average 30–60 minutes. Standard commercial lanes can range from 1–4 hours depending on CBP inspection rates.
In most cases, yes. US and Mexican trucking regulations require domestic carriers for each side. We coordinate the relay seamlessly as one service.
You need a commercial invoice, bill of lading, packing list, and for Mexico imports, a pedimento. USMCA certificates are needed for preferential duty rates.
Yes. We arrange permits for oversized loads and handle hazmat documentation for DOT and SCT compliance on both sides of the border.
Services at This Crossing
Ocean Freight Mexico
FCL and LCL through Manzanillo, Veracruz, Altamira & Lázaro Cárdenas with full customs clearance.
Air Freight Mexico
Time-sensitive cargo via Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Tijuana. Express and standard.
Cross-Border Trucking
FTL and LTL across Laredo, El Paso/Juárez, Tijuana/Otay Mesa, and all major US-Mexico crossings.
Mexico Customs Clearance
Pedimento filing, SAT compliance, import duty calculation, and documentation management.
USMCA Trade Compliance
Rules of origin analysis, certificates of origin, and preferential duty claims.
Door-to-Door Mexico
Complete origin-to-destination freight — pickup, customs clearance, and inland delivery.
Ready to Move Freight Through This Crossing?
Our border operations team manages trucking, drayage, and customs on both sides.