Through-trailer
The same trailer goes door to door; the tractor and driver change at the border.
- Benefit
- The freight isn’t unloaded or reloaded
- Best for
- Most truckload freight
Services · Cross-border
Shipping Freight to Mexico
Exports to Mexico, imports from Mexico, and plants on both sides of the border that ship to each other every week. I coordinate the truck or rail move through the Landstar network and work with your customs brokers, so the paperwork is ready before the freight reaches the border.
- U.S. ↔ Mexico
- Through-trailer or transload
- Truck and rail
How it works
Two ways across the border
Most Mexico freight crosses one of two ways. With through-trailer service, your loaded trailer goes door to door and only the tractor and driver change at the border, so the freight isn’t unloaded. With a transload, the freight is moved into another trailer at a warehouse near the border, which can make sense for mixed loads or special equipment.
Either way, both countries’ customs have to clear the freight. The U.S. side needs a U.S. customs broker and, for most exports over $2,500, an Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing. The Mexican side needs a licensed Mexican customs broker (agente aduanal) to file the pedimento, the Mexican customs declaration, and the freight needs a Carta Porte to move on Mexican roads.
Landstar is certified under C-TPAT and FAST and has secure drop yards at key border crossings. Laredo, Texas is the busiest commercial crossing between the two countries. For Canada, see shipping freight to Canada.
Options
Ways to ship to and from Mexico
The right option depends on the freight, the lane and how fast it has to arrive.
Transload
The freight is moved into another trailer at a warehouse near the border.
- Best for
- Mixed loads, consolidation, special equipment
- Trade-off
- Extra handling at the border
Flatbed & heavy haul
Machinery, steel and oversize freight, with permits on both sides of the border.
- Equipment
- Flatbeds, step decks, RGNs
Refrigerated
Produce moving north and food products moving south, at a set temperature.
- U.S. rules
- FSMA, and FDA prior notice for food imports
Rail intermodal
Containers and trailers on rail in and out of Mexico, for long, steady lanes.
- Best for
- Long-haul, less time-critical freight
Hazmat
Hazardous materials need the right documents and approvals in both countries.
- Tip
- Allow extra time for the paperwork
Typical loads
What moves between the U.S. and Mexico
- Automotive parts
- Manufacturing inputs
- Maquiladora supplies
- Electronics
- Appliances
- Steel & metals
- Machinery
- Fresh produce
- Food & beverages
- Plastics & resins
- Consumer goods
- Building materials
Step by step
How a Mexico load moves
Shipment details
Commodity, value, HS codes if you have them, weight, pieces, and pickup and delivery addresses.
Brokers and documents
The commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading go to your U.S. and Mexican customs brokers.
Border crossing
The freight crosses with the customs filings done, through-trailer or transloaded at the border.
Delivery
A carrier on the other side completes the move, with the Carta Porte in Mexico, and you get updates.
Request a quote
What I need for a quote
- Origin and destination addresses
- Commodity description and value
- HS tariff codes, if known
- Weight, pieces and dimensions
- Your U.S. and Mexican customs brokers, or whether you need one
- Who the importer of record is
- Incoterms, or who pays duties and fees
- Hazmat, temperature or oversize needs
How do I ship freight to Mexico?
Start with a commercial invoice, a packing list and a bill of lading, a U.S. customs broker or forwarder for the export filing, and a Mexican customs broker (agente aduanal) for the import. I coordinate the truck or rail move with them, through-trailer or with a transload at the border.
What documents do I need to ship to Mexico?
Typically a commercial invoice, a packing list and a bill of lading; an EEI filing for most U.S. exports over $2,500; a USMCA certification of origin if you claim duty-free treatment; and in Mexico, the pedimento filed by the Mexican customs broker and a Carta Porte for the transport. The Mexican importer must also be registered in Mexico’s importers’ registry (Padrón de Importadores).
What is a Carta Porte?
A Mexican tax document (a CFDI with the Carta Porte complement) that has to travel with freight moving on Mexican roads. It describes the goods, the route and the transport.
What is through-trailer service?
Your loaded trailer goes all the way from pickup to delivery, and only the tractor and driver change at the border. The freight isn’t unloaded and reloaded, which saves time and lowers the risk of damage.
Which border crossing is best?
It depends on where the freight starts and ends. Laredo is the busiest crossing and the main route to central Mexico; El Paso, Pharr, Nogales and Otay Mesa serve other regions. The load is routed through the crossing that fits the lane.
Does USMCA mean no duties?
Goods that meet the USMCA rules of origin can qualify for duty-free treatment with a certification of origin. Other goods may pay duties, and customs fees and taxes such as Mexico’s VAT (IVA) can still apply. Your customs broker confirms what your shipment owes.
Customs requirements change and depend on the commodity. This page is general information, not customs advice; your customs brokers confirm what your shipment needs.
More services
Other freight I move
Request a quote
Shipping to or from Mexico?
Send the origin, destination, commodity and value, and I’ll plan the crossing with you.