How goods cross the border: truck, rail, sea and air

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Mexico Trade Corridor · Corridor guide · A. How the corridor works

Most trade between Mexico and the United States crosses by road, and every load is cleared twice, once by each country. This guide explains the steps, who takes each one, the documents that travel with the goods, and where working capital is tied up on the way.

Published October 23, 2026 · Facts as of October 23, 2026 · 8 min read · Sources listed at the end · Rules as of October 23, 2026

Facts as of October 23, 2026. This page states the facts as they stood on that date. Tariffs, rules and figures may have changed since publication. Tariffs and trade policy change often, so we review these pages every month and update them.

73.6%Share of US-Mexico freight value carried by truck in 2025, BTS data ¹

10.9%Share carried by rail in 2025, BTS data ¹

46.1%Share of US-Mexico truck trade value through Laredo, Texas, in 2025 ¹

88%Share of US imports from Mexico that were USMCA-compliant, January to May 2026 ²

What is it?

A crossing is the set of steps that moves a load from a plant in one country to a buyer in the other. Trucks carried 73.6% of US-Mexico freight value in 2025 and rail 10.9% ¹. Sea and air ports bring in goods from other regions.

Why does it matter?

Each step adds time and cost, and a delay at one bridge can stop a production line on the other side. The documents filed at the border also decide which tariff applies ¹⁵.

How does it work?

The seller prepares the invoice and transport papers. A Mexican customs broker files the customs declaration, the pedimento, and a US broker files the US entry. Each customs service can inspect before it releases the goods ^10,18.

In this guide

1. Which modes carry goods between Mexico and the US?
2. What happens to a truckload at the border?
3. Which documents travel with the goods?
4. Who does what in a crossing?
5. What slows a crossing down?
6. Where is cash tied up while goods are in transit?

01Which modes carry goods between Mexico and the US?

Road carries most of the value. In 2025 trucks moved 73.6% of US-Mexico freight value and rail 10.9%, according to US Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) data ¹. The other 15.5% moved by sea, air, pipeline and other modes ¹.

A few gateways handle most truck trade. Laredo, Texas handled US$296.2 billion, or 46.1% of truck trade value, in 2025. Ysleta in El Paso handled 17.5% and Otay Mesa 9.1% ¹. Our border crossings page covers each port and its data.

The choice of mode follows the cargo. Factory parts and finished goods on tight schedules go by truck. Grain from the US Midwest goes by rail to El Paso, Laredo or Eagle Pass, or by barge and ocean vessel to Veracruz ¹⁶. Fuel from the US Gulf Coast usually reaches Mexico's east coast by tanker ¹⁷.

Compare

The four ways goods move between Mexico and the US

Shares of US-Mexico freight value in 2025, BTS data ¹. The 15.5% for all other modes is the remainder after truck and rail.

Mode	Share of value, 2025	Main gateways	What it carries
Truck	73.6% 1	Laredo (46.1% of truck value), Ysleta in El Paso (17.5%), Otay Mesa (9.1%) 1	Computer-related machinery 29.4%, electrical machinery 21.3% and vehicles 12.0% of truck trade value 1
Rail	10.9% 1	Laredo, Eagle Pass and El Paso 1	Grain, bulk goods and intermodal trains between Mexico and the US Midwest 6,16
Sea	Part of the other 15.5% 1	Manzanillo, Mexico's largest container port, with 3.9 million TEU in 2025 3; Veracruz for US grain 16	Overseas inputs, US grain by barge and vessel, and US fuel by tanker 16,17
Air	Part of the other 15.5% 1	Felipe Ángeles (AIFA) and Mexico City airports, then Guadalajara 7	Light, urgent or high-value goods. Mexico's air cargo was about 1.12 million tonnes from January to November 2025 7

Rail carried 10.9% of US-Mexico freight value in 2025. Laredo has had two rail bridges since February 6, 2025.

02What happens to a truckload at the border?

A northbound load is cleared twice. On the Mexican side, a licensed customs broker files the pedimento for the export. Mexico's customs then runs an automated selection, known as the semáforo, that decides whether the load gets a physical inspection ¹⁸. Our guide to customs brokers and the pedimento explains this step in detail.

On the US side, the importer or its broker files the entry with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). To get USMCA treatment, the importer claims it with a certification of origin ¹³. The claim matters more in 2026: goods entered with a USMCA claim are exempt from the 10% Section 301 tariff on Mexican goods, and goods entered without one pay it ¹⁵. Our guide to USMCA rules of origin covers the certificate.

Many loads change trucks at the border. As general practice, a short-haul carrier pulls the trailer across the bridge, and a long-haul carrier takes it on to the buyer. The sale contract sets who pays for each leg and who handles export clearance and import clearance, usually through an Incoterms rule. The Incoterms guide explains each rule.

1. Load and paperworkThe seller loads the trailer and issues the invoice and the transport document.
2. Mexican customsThe broker files the pedimento. The automated selection decides whether the load is inspected.
3. The bridgeA short-haul truck or a train takes the load across to a US port of entry.
4. US customsThe importer's broker files the entry and claims USMCA treatment where the goods qualify.
5. DeliveryA long-haul carrier takes the load to the plant or warehouse. Payment terms start to run.

03Which documents travel with the goods?

The pedimento sits at the center, but it relies on other documents. Mexican customs law, as summarized by legal commentators, requires the declaration to travel with the commercial invoice, a transport document, the origin document and proof that permits and product standards are met ⁹.

The value data goes in first. The importer creates an electronic value document, the COVE, in the government single window, VUCEM, and signs it with its digital seal. The broker then links it to the pedimento ¹⁰. The trade documents checklist in our Trade Finance Guide covers the general set; the list here shows what is specific to this corridor.

Checklist

Documents for a shipment between Mexico and the US

• Commercial invoice and CFDIThe sale invoice. A Mexican seller also issues the electronic tax invoice, the CFDI ¹⁹. See our CFDI guide.
• Transport documentA bill of lading, an air waybill or, for road freight in Mexico, the Carta Porte ⁹.
• Pedimento and COVEThe customs declaration filed by the broker, linked to the electronic value document ^10,11.
• USMCA certification of originNo set form. It must contain nine data elements and can cover one shipment or identical goods over up to 12 months ^13,14.
• Permits and standardsImport permits, Mexican product standards (NOMs) and sanitary certificates, where the product needs them ⁹.
• Importer registrationA Mexican importer must be in the Padrón de Importadores, with an active tax ID and electronic signature ¹².

Which documents apply depends on the product and on the Incoterms rule in the contract.

04Who does what in a crossing?

Several parties touch each load. Their roles are:

• The exporter or importer owns the declaration and signs the value document with its electronic signature ¹⁰.
• The Mexican customs broker (agente aduanal) classifies the goods, calculates taxes and files the pedimento ¹⁰.
• Mexico's customs agency, ANAM, and the tax authority, SAT, inspect, audit and collect ²⁰.
• US Customs and Border Protection reviews the US entry and any USMCA claim ¹³.
• Carriers, drayage firms and freight forwarders move the goods and handle transport papers.
• Railways run cross-border trains. CPKC is the only railway that links Canada, the US and Mexico; Union Pacific and Ferromex also serve the border ⁶.

A Mexican importer must also be listed in the importer registry, the Padrón de Importadores, before goods can enter ¹².

05What slows a crossing down?

Inspections can cause long delays. In April 2022, Texas began extra inspections of all commercial vehicles arriving from Mexico. After a deal on April 13, 2022, Texas dropped them for traffic from Nuevo León, and the wait at that crossing fell from about six hours to about five minutes. Inspections stayed in place at most other crossings ⁴.

Capacity is a second limit. Before February 6, 2025, trains at Laredo crossed on a single rail bridge. CPKC opened a second bridge that day, about 1,170 feet long, so trains can run both ways at once. CPKC says it more than doubles border capacity ⁵. In March 2026 the Texas Department of Transportation published plans to widen Laredo's World Trade Bridge with two southbound lanes and add a new span with eight northbound lanes ⁸.

Paper errors cause the rest. A missing permit, a wrong tariff line or a value that does not match the invoice can hold a load for inspection or bring a fine. Rules and tariffs change often, so check our corridor watch before each new lane or product.

06Where is cash tied up while goods are in transit?

Freight, broker fees and, on imports, duties and taxes are usually paid before the buyer pays for the goods. On imports into Mexico, the importer pays duties and taxes before the goods are released ¹⁸. Our landed cost guide shows how the import taxes add up.

A delay at the border adds to this gap. Goods held at a bridge are still on the seller's or the buyer's books, and buyers often hold extra stock to cover late loads. This is general practice, and the cost depends on the contract and the Incoterms rule used. Sellers of parts, such as auto parts suppliers, feel this most because their buyers work on tight delivery schedules.

Where the cash goes

From loading to payment

1. Loading
   Freight bookedThe party named in the Incoterms rule books and pays the first transport leg.
2. Border
   Brokers, duties and taxesBroker fees are paid on each side. On imports into Mexico, duties and taxes are paid before release.
3. In transit
   Goods on the roadThe goods are owned but not yet sold or paid for. Delays add days.
4. Delivery
   Invoice dueThe buyer receives the goods and pays on its agreed terms.

The order of cash needs is typical for a cross-border load. Actual days depend on the contract, the mode and the crossing.

Goods held or in transitInventory finance

Funds stock that is on the road or in a warehouse near the border.

Duties and taxes at importTrade loan

Short-term funding for one import, repaid when the goods are sold.

Waiting for the buyerFactoring or invoice discounting

The seller sells or borrows against the invoice once the goods are delivered.

Questions traders ask

How do most goods cross between Mexico and the US?

By truck. Trucks carried 73.6% of US-Mexico freight value in 2025 and rail 10.9%, according to US Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. Laredo, Texas, handled 46.1% of truck trade value.

Do I need a customs broker in Mexico?

In most cases, yes. Importers and exporters in Mexico file the customs declaration, the pedimento, through a licensed customs broker or customs agency. A few groups, such as federal agencies and passengers, are exempt.

Which documents does a shipment from Mexico to the US need?

Usually a commercial invoice, a transport document, the Mexican pedimento with its electronic value document, a USMCA certification of origin if the goods qualify, and any permits the product needs.

Why does the USMCA claim matter at the border?

As of October 23, 2026, goods entered into the US with a valid USMCA claim avoid the 10% Section 301 tariff on Mexican goods. Goods entered without the claim pay it, even if they would have qualified.

What causes delays at the Mexico-US border?

Physical inspections on either side, limited bridge capacity and errors in documents. Extra Texas inspections in April 2022 raised waits at one crossing to about six hours before a deal cut them to minutes.

Read next

• Corridor hubHow goods cross: border crossings, rail lines and ports
• Corridor guideCustoms brokers and the customs declaration (pedimento)
• Corridor guideUSMCA rules of origin and certificates
• Corridor guideLanded cost: import VAT, duties and fees
• Product briefAuto parts: the trade that crosses the Mexico-US border in both directions
• Corridor hubCorridor watch: tariffs and rules in force
• Ossiano Trade Finance GuideHow each trade finance instrument works
• GlossaryTrade finance terms in plain English

Moving goods across the border between Mexico and the US? Ossiano Capital works on trade finance in this corridor.

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Sources and notes

1. Air Freight News, US Bureau of Transportation Statistics transborder freight data, 2025 annual report, March 17, 2026. https://airfreight.news/articles/full/transborder-freight-data-annual-report-2025
2. Congressional Research Service, U.S.-Mexico Trade Relations (IF11175), August 13, 2026. https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/2026-08-13_IF11175_366b72c3fd2f3ebe10b28bf3feddca0088251bbb.html
3. Cluster Industrial, Manzanillo closes 2025 as the leading port (ASIPONA Manzanillo data), January 12, 2026. https://clusterindustrial.com.mx/manzanillo-cierra-2025-como-lider-portuario-con-casi-4-millones-de-teus/
4. Fox 4 News, Texas border inspections and the Nuevo León agreement, April 13, 2022. https://www.fox4news.com/news/trucker-blockade-us-mexico-border-texas
5. CPKC via PR Newswire, CPKC dedicates Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge, February 6, 2025. https://www.streetinsider.com/PRNewswire/CPKC+dedicates+Patrick+J.+Ottensmeyer+International+Railway+Bridge/24311059.html
6. FreightWaves, Despite tariff talk, CPKC expects to tap cross-border traffic growth, December 4, 2024. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/despite-tariff-talk-cpkc-expects-to-tap-cross-border-traffic-growth
7. Mexico Business News, Mexico air cargo falls 3.2% in 2025 (AFAC data), January 23, 2026. https://mexicobusiness.news/aerospace/news/mexico-air-cargo-falls-32-2025-despite-passenger-growth
8. Texas Department of Transportation, World Trade Bridge expansion, public notice, March 18, 2026. https://www.txdot.gov/projects/hearings-meetings/laredo/2026/world-trade-bridge-expansion-042126.html
9. SDV Asesores, commentary on the Ley Aduanera (Mexican customs law), documents that accompany the pedimento. Secondary source; check the current law text. https://sdv.com.mx/compendio/ley-aduanera/articulo-36-a/
10. Camtom, Agente aduanal: what it is, its functions and how to choose one, 2026. https://camtomx.com/blog/agente-aduanal-que-es-funciones-como-elegir
11. SAT, Annex 22 of the General Foreign Trade Rules (RGCE) for 2026, pedimento instructions. https://www.sat.gob.mx/minisitio/NormatividadRMFyRGCE/documentos2026/rgce/anexos/Anexo22delasRGCEpara2026.pdf
12. SAT, Padrón de Importadores, registration requirements, 2025 to 2026. https://www.sat.gob.mx/minisitio/PadronImportadoresExportadores/pi_inscripcion.html
13. US Customs and Border Protection, USMCA frequently asked questions. https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/USMCA/FAQs
14. Global Affairs Canada, CUSMA (USMCA) text, Chapter 5, Origin procedures. https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/cusma-aceum/text-texte/05.aspx?lang=eng
15. Joffroy, Section 301 10 percent duty and USMCA entry, July 2026. https://joffroy.com/blog/section-301-10-percent-duty-usmca-entry
16. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Mexico Indicators Report, third quarter 2025, February 2026. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/MexicoIndicatorsReport3rdQuarter2025.pdf
17. OPIS, US West Coast diesel exports to Mexico drop 41% in 2025, March 16, 2026. https://www.opis.com/?p=41026
18. IDC Online, Duration of the customs inspection (reconocimiento aduanero), July 15, 2022. https://idconline.mx/comercio-exterior/2022/07/15/duracion-del-reconocimiento-aduanero
19. Runa HR, How to validate an invoice with the SAT, March 21, 2026. https://runahr.com/mx/recursos/nomina/validar-factura-sat/
20. PwC México, Decree reforming the Ley Aduanera (customs law), 2025. https://www.pwc.com/mx/es/impuestos/archivo/novedades-fiscales/2025/decreto-reforma-diversas-disposiciones-ley-aduanera.pdf

All facts on this page are as of October 23, 2026, the date of publication, and may have changed since. Rules and tariffs are as of October 23, 2026 and change often: check the corridor watch before you act.

About this guide. Prepared for Ossiano Capital. People planned, researched, wrote and checked this guide, using AI tools to help with research and checking. You are welcome to quote or reuse it: please credit Ossiano Capital and link to this page.