Border Capacity Crunch Hits US-Mexico and US-Canada Freight

· Logistics · United States · Mexico

Cross-border freight capacity is under severe strain on both of North America's land borders. Roughly 25,000 Mexican driver visas have been revoked, pushing tender rejections higher at both the US-Mexico and US-Canada crossings and sending rates sharply upward; the constraints are expected to persist well into 2027. On the northern border, trade tension between Canada and the US is forcing importers, exporters and retailers to rethink strategy quickly, including splitting US and Canadian fulfillment and adapting to new data requirements. Intermodal trends are varying widely by geography, with the trade war damaging the Canadian economy and depressing freight demand. Together these pressures are reshaping cross-border logistics networks and costs.

Why it matters：Cross-border trucking is a core artery of North American supply chains, so sustained capacity losses and tariff-driven rerouting will raise costs and push shippers to redesign distribution footprints.

Key points

  • About 25,000 Mexican driver visas have been revoked
  • Tender rejections have risen at both the US-Mexico and US-Canada borders
  • Constraints are expected to continue well into 2027

Sources (original reporting)

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