C.H. Robinson expands operations in Laredo, Texas to streamline cross-border logistics with Mexico

Global logistics leader C.H. Robinson has inaugurated a cutting-edge facility in Laredo, Texas, aimed at streamlining cross-border trade between the United States and Mexico. The state-of-the-art cross-dock facility, one of the largest in Laredo, comes at a time when global shippers are increasingly turning to nearshoring to strengthen their supply chains.

The Port of Laredo, a vital trade hub, witnessed a significant uptick in trade volume last year, with trade between Laredo and Mexico soaring to $268 billion in 2022, marking a 20% increase from the previous year. Notably, auto parts took the lead as the primary commodity moving through the port. Laredo also secured its position as the busiest trade gateway in the United States, outpacing over 450 seaports, airports, and border crossings.

C.H. Robinson’s Vice President for Mexico, Mike Burkhart, highlighted the company’s steadfast commitment to the region, noting, “C.H. Robinson manages over 1 million trucking, intermodal, ocean, and air shipments annually in this area. Our latest facility has been meticulously designed to provide our global shippers with scalability, speed, and efficient service.”

One notable feature of the new Laredo facility is its innovative design, with dock doors on both sides. This design significantly expedites the transfer of freight from Mexican carriers to U.S. carriers, reducing time and resource consumption.

Traditionally, the process involved three trucks to move a shipment through Laredo. A Mexican carrier delivered the trailer to the border, a Mexican transfer carrier took it across, and then the freight was unloaded and reloaded onto a U.S. carrier’s trailer. With the larger cross-dock and more dock doors, incoming freight can be immediately unloaded, slashing reloading times.

In addition to top-notch facilities, C.H. Robinson emphasizes the importance of expertise in navigating the complexities of cross-border trade. Sri Laxmana, C.H. Robinson’s Vice President for the Americas, stressed the significance of having experienced professionals familiar with shipping processes, laws, and customs regulations in every country involved in the supply chain.

C.H. Robinson is a major player in logistics, handling over a million shipments yearly, which includes trucking, intermodal, ocean, and air transport. They’re a significant contributor, accounting for 1 in 10 truckload border crossings into the United States. Their extensive facilities encompass 1.5 million sq. ft. of cross-dock and warehouse space, including 660,000 sq. ft. in Laredo, with 230 dock doors and room for 700 trailers, simplifying freight transfers from Mexican to U.S. carriers. C.H. Robinson currently manages 170,000 U.S. Customs entries annually and provides real-time clearance data through U.S. Customs and other agencies. They also offer valuable insights into tariffs, duties, duty recovery, and potential supply chain savings at the SKU level via their U.S. Customs Analytics tool.

As American businesses increasingly turn to Mexico to strengthen their supply and value chains, this is poised to drive growth in Mexico’s GDP as investments surge. This presents fresh prospects for both companies and investors. Nearshoring holds the potential to significantly enhance Mexican manufacturing exports to the United States. Notably, the Port of Laredo stands as the largest inland port in the USA when it comes to cross-border trade volume, making the substantial increase in private investments in the region perfectly logical.