By Maria Kalamatas | July 29, 2025
Laredo, July 29 — Cross-border freight traffic along the busy U.S.–Mexico corridor is slowing as a growing shortage of qualified truck drivers leaves carriers struggling to meet demand.
“Freight is piling up on both sides of the border,” said Carlos Mendez, operations director at a major logistics provider based in Nuevo Laredo. “We’ve had trucks waiting for loads, but no drivers available to move them across. It’s creating bottlenecks we haven’t seen in years.”
A labor crunch fueled by multiple factors
Driver attrition has spiked in recent months as wage disputes, stricter safety standards, and competition from domestic hauls lure drivers away from cross-border routes. Many independent operators also report rising insurance costs and longer wait times at customs, making the work less appealing.
Industry groups estimate the corridor is short by at least 8,000 licensed drivers, just as automotive and agricultural exports ramp up ahead of the fall season.
Delays drive up costs for shippers
Carriers say average transit times on key routes through Laredo and El Paso are now stretching by 24 to 48 hours. Perishable shipments, particularly Mexican produce headed to Texas distribution hubs, are incurring additional refrigeration and storage costs as they wait for available drivers.
“For exporters, every extra hour on the dock erodes profit margins,” Mendez said. “We’re seeing spot rates spike because supply just can’t keep up.”
Logistics firms seek quick fixes
Some companies are offering signing bonuses and temporary pay hikes to lure back experienced drivers, while others are expanding partnerships with rail operators to keep freight moving. Third-party logistics firms are also pooling loads to optimize available capacity.
But analysts warn these are stopgap measures. “Without structural changes to address training, wages, and wait times, this shortage could worsen heading into the holiday season,” said Mendez.
Outlook for the next quarter
Industry leaders predict cross-border freight volumes will remain strong through Q4, but the driver shortage could trigger further delays unless incentives and recruitment programs take hold.
“If we can’t get more drivers on these lanes soon, we’ll see longer lead times and higher costs across the board,” Mendez added.
