Freight volumes moving between the United States and Mexico are climbing sharply, with one border crossing reportedly registering a 1,000% increase in daily truck movements. The surge illustrates the profound effect that nearshoring is having on the supply chain and on cross-border logistics between Texas and Mexico.

Daily freight movements at the Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge in Laredo have jumped from roughly 800 loads per day in 2022 to more than 10,000 today — a 1,000% increase — according to Nuevo León Governor Samuel García. Authorities project that figure will double again within the next four years, underscoring how nearshoring is fundamentally reshaping freight flows between the U.S. and Mexico.

The figures prompted FreightWaves co-founder Craig Fuller to examine SONAR data covering Laredo and broader US-Mexico contract freight. His findings reinforced the macro trend, even though granular bridge-level data was not available. "The overall theme here is that 2026 has been the tightest cross-border capacity year in recent memory, and there have been volume surges on both sides, really," Fuller said.

On a relative basis, SONAR data show US-to-Mexico contract freight volumes up more than 200% from their low point to recent peaks, with the surge reaching as high as 387% during the measured period and touching 700% in June. Mexico-to-US volumes are up approximately 79% over the same span — a notable gain, but dwarfed by the southbound surge.

"US to Mexico volume is up 387% during that period of time. It was as high as 700% in June. And then Mexico to US is up 79%. These numbers are absolutely astounding in terms of the growth." — Julie Van de Kamp

Van de Kamp cautioned that García's bridge-specific figures are drawn from official government statements and have shifted somewhat over time, but noted that the directional signal is consistent with what carriers and observers on the ground are reporting. She added that Mexican government statisticians may be understating actual growth because they cannot keep pace with the rapid expansion of manufacturing facilities in the region.

Key commodity flows crossing the border include agricultural products — particularly fresh produce — and auto parts, both of which have grown as shippers diversify away from trans-Pacific trade lanes burdened by tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty. Nearshoring of manufacturing into northern Mexico, especially Nuevo León, is the primary structural driver cited by both Fuller and Van de Kamp.

Laredo's importance to the broader US freight network is also evident along I-35, the north-south artery connecting the crossing to Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and beyond. Van de Kamp noted that the corridor has transformed since the NAFTA era into a nearly continuous flow of commercial trucks. Laredo has in recent years ranked as the busiest US-Mexico border crossing for truck freight, and Mexico itself has become one of the United States' largest trading partners — dynamics that make the crossing a bellwether for the wider nearshoring shift in North American manufacturing.

With USMCA trade relations under political pressure and the review of the agreement looming, market participants will be watching whether current volume levels hold — or accelerate further.