Automation, Infrastructure, and Partnerships: The Master Plan for Cross-Border Trade Between Mexico and Laredo, Texas

The future of cross-border trade in North America will depend on a multimodal ecosystem that integrates road, rail, air transportation, and technology. During the Port Laredo Global Trade Summit, leaders from these sectors agreed that process automation, infrastructure expansion, and binational partnerships will be critical to consolidating Laredo as the leading logistics hub in the Western Hemisphere and competing with hubs such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and JFK Airport.

The Laredo Bridge System Advances Road Connectivity Amid Global Competition

With a focus on competitiveness, Kent Richard, representing the Laredo Bridge System, opened the discussion by noting that geographic location no longer guarantees logistics leadership.

"Our geographic location is what has put us where we are today, but we must stay ahead of the curve and continue to be number one in the Western Hemisphere," he emphasized.

According to Richard, the key is to accelerate the development of the surrounding road infrastructure through projects coordinated with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Public investment is currently focused on optimizing access to freight zones to prevent bottlenecks that could reduce the region's competitiveness.

"They are investing in several key roadways around Mines Road to help trucks enter and leave Laredo much faster via I-35," he explained.

These projects include strategic work on Lorenzo, Hachar, and Mendez to absorb the projected growth in commercial traffic. In this context, Richard called for coordinated operations across the entire logistics chain to meet rising demand.

Expansion of the Colombia Bridge Strengthens Border Infrastructure

Expansion on the Mexican side represents a strategic step toward preventing border congestion. Devorah Karren, Director of International Relations for the Government of Nuevo León, highlighted the state's infrastructure reconfiguration efforts in coordination with U.S. authorities.

"We are anticipating market needs with two additional bridges that will bring total capacity to 16 lanes," she said.

The new projects will transform the region's logistics dynamics. At the same time, the Government of Nuevo León is modernizing the roads connecting Monterrey with the Colombia Bridge to expedite commercial crossings into Texas.

CPKC Advances Destination Inspections to Expedite Trade

From the rail transportation perspective, Carlo Jiménez, a representative of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), explained that nearshoring is requiring a redesign of logistics operations in North America.

"Laredo's position is set to become even more critical as a logistics hub for all of North America," he said.

Jiménez emphasized that this growth requires increasingly close coordination among Canada, the United States, and Mexico to strengthen the regional rail network.

"Just yesterday, we received approval from SENASICA to conduct inspections—previously expected to take place at the border—directly at our destination terminal in Toluca for certain products such as cotton, popcorn, distillers dried grains (DDGs), and pet food. This allows us to offer better transit times and directly benefit the customer," he revealed.

Technology Makes Complete Visibility an Urgent Priority

For infrastructure to operate efficiently, data exchange is as important as the physical movement of goods. Daniela Silva, Commercial Director of APM Terminals, emphasized the need to integrate technology platforms that eliminate information fragmentation.

"We are already talking about expanding capacity, building infrastructure, and automating, but what we truly need to implement is end-to-end visibility," she said.

Today, each participant in the logistics chain manages information independently. Silva said importers and exporters need a unified platform that allows them to track their goods from origin to final destination.

"The customer needs to know exactly where the container is from the moment it is loaded in Asia until it reaches its final destination. Each step in the supply chain cannot be an isolated link; it must be connected so our customers have the complete picture. How do we ensure that everything is integrated into a single, unified source of information?" she said.

Airspace Is Building the Border of the Future

The air component of the multimodal ecosystem was addressed by Steve Forrer, Vice President of Aviation Facilities Company (AFCO), who discussed the airport projects the company is developing in Laredo.

Forrer said the strategy seeks to strengthen airport operations through cross-dock facilities, where aircraft can operate directly next to cargo terminals.

"Laredo is an ideal niche airport for air cargo. We are not seeking to compete directly with massive hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), but to build a complementary relationship that connects trade flows between Texas, the rest of the United States, and Mexico," he explained.

The Logistics Opportunities Already Within Reach

At the close of the panel, participants agreed that strengthening binational collaboration means taking advantage of the so-called "low-hanging fruit." Richard emphasized that Laredo's logistics community maintains permanent coordination mechanisms.

"We meet monthly with Puerto Colombia, Nuevo Laredo Customs in Tamaulipas, and TxDOT. We also have a 16-member Port of Entry Advisory Committee to oversee the bridge area," he said.

With infrastructure, technological integration, and more flexible customs processes already underway, the participants agreed that Laredo is strengthening its position as one of North America's leading logistics hubs for trade among Mexico, the United States, and Canada.