By Eva Richardson | The Logistic News
With North American supply chains under rapid transformation, Cargado, a startup specializing in cross-border freight operations, has raised $12 million in Series A funding to expand its digital platform for U.S.–Mexico brokers. The announcement highlights the growing investor focus on region-specific logistics technology, as demand for efficient, compliant, and scalable cross-border solutions reaches new highs.
Led by Latitude Ventures, with participation from Sierra Norte Capital and several veteran supply chain investors, the raise brings Cargado’s total funding to $20 million. The new capital will be used to scale Cargado’s broker-facing platform, which streamlines quoting, compliance, and shipment tracking across both sides of the border.
Built for the Realities of Border Freight
Unlike global freight marketplaces attempting to serve every trade lane, Cargado was built specifically for the nuances of the U.S.–Mexico corridor—arguably one of the most operationally complex routes in North American logistics.
“Cross-border freight doesn’t need another generic tool,” said Luis Herrera, co-founder and CEO of Cargado. “It needs a solution that reflects how brokers actually move freight between two regulatory systems, two languages, and two economies.”
Cargado’s platform includes:
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Automated customs documentation workflows in English and Spanish
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Real-time shipment tracking across U.S. and Mexican carriers
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Integrated quoting tools designed for both sides of the border
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A bilingual dispatch interface optimized for field-level coordination
The company’s broker-first approach has made it especially popular with mid-sized logistics firms handling freight for automotive, electronics, and produce sectors.
A Market Repositioning Mexico as a Primary Trade Partner
The funding comes just months after Mexico overtook China as the United States’ largest trading partner, reinforcing the geopolitical and commercial shift toward regional manufacturing and sourcing.
“As the U.S. redefines its supply chain strategies, tech that strengthens regional freight lanes is no longer optional—it’s essential,” said a partner at Latitude Ventures. “Cargado sits at the intersection of that need, offering clarity where there’s historically been friction.”
Recent data from CBP and SAT confirms a double-digit increase in cross-border truckloads over the past 12 months, putting further strain on brokers juggling outdated processes and carrier fragmentation.
What the $12M Will Unlock
Cargado plans to deploy the funds to:
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Expand its product and engineering teams in San Diego and Monterrey
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Launch a mobile app for drivers and customs agents
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Deepen integration with both U.S. and Mexican customs systems
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Roll out an AI-powered compliance engine for bonded freight, IMMEX flows, and CTPAT-linked lanes
The platform will also introduce analytics tools to help brokers track lane-specific service reliability, average dwell times, and document rejection rates—features rarely accessible to small or mid-sized players.
More Than a Platform—A Strategic Infrastructure Layer
Cargado’s investors and founders agree: the goal is not to disrupt brokers, but to equip them. “The broker is still central to U.S.–Mexico logistics,” Herrera said. “What’s changing is that they finally have access to tech that reflects the realities of their cross-border work.”
Conclusion:
As nearshoring accelerates and regional trade becomes more strategically important than ever, Cargado’s $12M raise is more than a milestone—it’s a signal that the future of freight tech will be built around specialization, localization, and empowering those closest to the cargo.
