Cross-Border Freight: New Texas Loads for Truckers
By iAgency
Freight crossing the southern border is booming, and the way it moves is changing. More shippers now hand off loads at Texas border cities instead of running one truck the whole way. That shift is opening doors for U.S. owner-operators and small fleets who are ready to pick up transloaded freight. Here is what is happening, where the loads are, and how to protect your business before you chase them.
Key takeaways
Truck freight is up sharply. Federal data shows truck freight across U.S. borders was worth $109.0 billion in August 2026, up 29.8% from a year earlier.
Laredo leads the way. Laredo, Texas, was the busiest port for all freight in August at $37.7 billion.
Transloading is growing. Shippers are moving more freight to a U.S. carrier at a transfer point near the border, according to an Uber Freight executive quoted by Land Line.
Check your coverage first. Higher-value loads, new lanes and new brokers can all change what your policy needs to handle.
What the latest cross-border freight numbers show
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported on October 21 that North American transborder freight reached $160.6 billion in August 2026, up 22.6% from August 2025. Trucks carried the largest share, at $109.0 billion. Freight between the U.S. and Mexico rose 26.7% to $94.3 billion, and trucks moved $73.9 billion of that trade.
Land Line reported on October 20 that most of the recent growth in North American truck freight has come from the southern border. Freight from Mexico has dropped year over year in only two months since April 2025.
For carriers, more freight near the border means more loads to bid on. The question is how those loads reach U.S. trucks.
Why transloading is opening doors
There are two common ways to move freight from Mexico into the U.S. In a through-trailer move, one trailer makes the whole trip and a U.S. carrier coordinates with Mexican partners. In a transload move, a Mexican carrier brings the freight across the border to a transfer point, and a U.S. carrier takes it from there.
Kyle Toombs, a senior vice president at Uber Freight, told Land Line that about 25,000 Mexican truck drivers have lost their B-1 visas since April 2025. With fewer of those drivers able to run deep into the U.S., he said, more freight is shifting from through-trailer moves to transloading. That creates work for U.S. carriers without the need for a Mexican partner.
Not every data source sees the same trend. Land Line noted that OOIDA Foundation data shows no clear shift in Mexican freight so far, and results may differ by network. Treat this as an opportunity to test, not a sure thing.
Where the loads are and how to make them pay
Location matters. Toombs pointed to South Texas as a strong area. He said loads going into Texas may pay poorly, and that San Antonio generally has better inbound rates than Laredo. A short empty run from San Antonio or Austin to a border city could make sense. Land Line also shared his example of a Michigan carrier picking up transloaded freight in South Texas and hauling it home to Detroit as a backhaul.
Watch these freight types:
Computer parts. Imports tied to AI data center growth are a major category.
Southbound flatbed. Demand is rising as Mexico builds new infrastructure.
Appliances. Volumes are expected to grow as Mexican factory investments mature.
To keep these lanes profitable, plan both directions before you commit. Price the empty miles, compare rates from San Antonio and the border cities, and line up a load home. Our look at rising truckload rates covers more ways small fleets can win as the market tightens.
Protect your business on new border lanes
New lanes bring new risks. Before you take your first transload, review these points:
Match your cargo limit to the freight. Computer and electronics loads can be worth far more than general freight. Make sure your cargo coverage limit and commodity list fit what you will haul.
Know your theft risk. High-value electronics are a common theft target. Our guide to holiday cargo theft lists simple steps to protect loads.
Vet every broker and transfer point. Confirm the broker's authority, and call back at a number you already trust before you accept any change to pickup details.
Secure flatbed loads well. Southbound flatbed freight means more cargo securement checks at the roadside. Inspect straps, chains and edge protectors before every trip.
Stay on the U.S. side unless you plan for it. Most U.S. truck policies do not cover driving in Mexico. If a load would take you across the border, talk to your agent first.
Brokers and shippers on these lanes may also ask for higher liability limits or extra certificates. Check that your owner-operator insurance meets their requirements before you bid, so a missing certificate does not cost you the load.
Thinking about adding border lanes? Start an online quote and we will review your coverage with you.
Frequently asked questions
What is transloading in cross-border freight?
Transloading is when a Mexican carrier brings freight across the border to a transfer point, and a U.S. carrier picks it up and hauls it to its final stop in the U.S.
Do I need a Mexican partner to haul transloaded freight?
No. Because the handoff happens on the U.S. side, a U.S. carrier can haul the load without working directly with a Mexican carrier.
Which Texas cities have the most cross-border freight?
Laredo was the top port for all transborder freight in August 2026, according to BTS. Land Line's source said San Antonio and Austin can work as nearby bases.
Does my U.S. truck insurance cover me in Mexico?
Most U.S. truck policies do not cover driving in Mexico. Review your policy terms with your agent before any trip that crosses the border.
About iAgency
iAgency is a commercial trucking insurance agency for owner-operators, small fleets and the partners who support them, including dispatchers, factoring companies and accountants. Call or text 469-501-1071, email coi@iagency.biz for certificates, or get an online quote.
Source: Land Line, Shippers rethink Mexican freight moves as B-1 drivers lose visas (Oct. 20, 2026). Figures checked against BTS, North American Transborder Freight Valued at $160.6 Billion in August 2026 (Oct. 21, 2026).
Photo: Preston A Larimer on Unsplash.
This article is general information, not coverage or legal advice. Coverage depends on your policy terms.