Mexico Capacity Demand Continues to Increase

A driver shortage in Mexico and heightened port volumes point to increasing demand in the country.

Mexico Sees 9% Surge in Truck Driver Demand in 2023

Mexico faced a shortage of 56,000 truck operators in 2023, marking a 9% increase in demand for drivers compared to the previous year, revealed the latest report from the International Road Transport Union (IRU).

While this shortage is a global issue, Mexico faces unique challenges hindering the generation of new operators. Factors such as insecurity, demanding physical and emotional requirements, long waits for loading and unloading at customer sites, and road congestion have made the profession less appealing.

Mexico and Laredo, TX Port Volumes Increasing

Seaports across Mexico moved a record 2.95 million twenty-foot equivalent units during the first four months of 2024, according to statistics from Mexico’s General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine, an 18.2% year-over-year increase.

Mexico and Laredo Port Volumes Increasing

The Port of Laredo is the country’s top port ranked by trade value, with $320 billion in total trade last year and more than 5.5 million annual truck crossings. Trucks entering the Laredo land port of entry from Mexico in 2023 increased nearly 5% from 2022 to 2023, with 2.8 million trucks. President Biden recently signed into law Senate Bill 992, which will position it to be the only port of entry with Mexico that will be accessible to four current or future interstate corridors: I-35, I-2, I-69 and I-27.

About the Mexico transportation market update

^{Schneider publishes this regular transportation market update to keep you informed of freight market conditions, supply and demand influencers, and disruptions that may impact your supply chain.}

^{This report is developed by leveraging data and analytics from multiple transportation industry resources.}

^{This report focuses on the Mexico Transportation Market.}^{View the full Transportation Market Update here.}

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