Llame al (888) 572-7520 para hablar con un agente
Enviar mensaje a un agente
In 2024, cross-border freight transport was marked by a dominance of imports from Mexico, how will the tariffs impact this trend?
In 2024, cross-border freight transport was marked by a dominance of imports from Mexico, particularly in the information technology sector, with a specific focus on truck transportation, according to LandLine. The latest figures provided by the Transportation Statistics Office show that, in December 2024, the year ended with cross-border truck freight valued at nearly $78 billion, representing a 6% increase compared to the previous year.
This growth in trucked cross-border freight is largely attributed to activity within and outside the southern border. However, the new administration and tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump could impact the figures achieved in 2024.
Cross-border freight from Mexico and Canada
The increase in the movement of Mexican trucks in 2024 was mainly driven by a 54% growth in information technology-related imports, making it the most important sector. Throughout the year, Mexican truck imports linked to information technology increased in double digits almost every month, with a remarkable 83% increase in September. In contrast, in 2023, information technology imports showed a decrease nearly every month, with a 10% increase in Mexican trucks and less than 1% increase in Canadian ones.
In terms of total cross-border freight, $126.3 billion was moved, a 3.9% increase compared to December 2023. Of this total, $62.4 billion was between the U.S. and Canada, a 2.1% increase compared to December 2023, while freight between the U.S. and Mexico reached $63.8 billion, growing by 5.6%. Over the past 22 months, Mexico has surpassed Canada in terms of freight value.
As for truck transportation, $77.6 billion worth of goods were moved, a 6.0% increase from December 2023. However, rail and ship transport experienced declines, with a 6.2% and 7.6% drop, respectively, compared to the previous December. Pipelines also saw a 2.1% decrease, moving $9 billion in freight, while air cargo increased by 9.7%, reaching $5.1 billion.
Nearshoring and tariffs: what will happen to imports?
The rise in cross-border transportation in 2024 was driven by the growing nearshoring trend, where U.S. companies began shifting from China to Mexico. During this year, record figures were recorded in freight transportation, with 677,000 truck crossings from Mexico to the U.S. in October. Laredo, handling approximately 40% of imports by road, experienced a year-over-year increase of 28.5% in holiday imports. This growth is attributed to Mexico’s nearshoring manufacturing capacity, supported by strong foreign investments, which could continue to favor imports in the coming years.
Overall, the value of cross-border freight reached $126 billion in December 2024, a 4% increase compared to the previous year. Canadian freight grew by 2%, while Mexican freight increased by 6%. However, ship, rail, and pipeline transportation modes experienced declines in November 2024. Additionally, on February 1, 2024, President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican products, which was temporarily suspended for 30 days during negotiations. On February 11, a 25% tariff was also imposed on all steel and aluminum imports. These measures have raised uncertainties about the future of cross-border trade, but nearshoring continues to show positive trends, with potential consequences such as increased production costs and delays in delivery times.
Road rage spikes during summer: beware and be safe
Stress behind the wheel, combined with extreme heat that makes us more irritable, can lead to more than just frustration: it can trigger road rage.
The Fuels of the Future: How the U.S. Is Redefining Energy with Waste, Hydrogen, and CO₂
The United States is leading a new energy revolution—one powered by waste, clean air, and cutting-edge science. From manure to solar power, from agricultural leftovers
Operation Safe Driver Week: how to be prepared
Operation Safe Driver Week will take place from July 13 to 19, here are some actions to perform to be prepared for inspections. The Commercial
ABF Freight evaluates Tesla Semi in three-week trial
The Tesla Semi test included highway and regional routes in Reno and Sacramento, as well as operations in the Bay Area. ArcBest’s freight transportation company,
Earth Is Spinning Faster: What It Means for GPS, Trucking, and Drivers’ Daily Operations
Earth Is Spinning Faster: What It Means for GPS, Trucking, and Drivers’ Daily Operations
Unified Registration System: new identity verification system to combat fraud
The Unified Registration System has a new identity verification process will be simple and promises to reduce fraud in the transportation industry. A fraud epidemic
Business hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. California time