Uber Freight: US-Mexico capacity crunch could ‘get worse before it gets better’

A shortage of B-1 visa drivers is causing a capacity squeeze for trucking between Mexico and the United States, according to a report from FreightWaves. Heightened enforcement of visa regulations, English language requirements, and stricter cabotage rules have reduced the number of qualified drivers. Consequently, northbound cargo is piling up in Nuevo Laredo while shipping rates rise, even though there are approximately nine trailers available for every active driver.

Uber Freight executive Zeid Houssami told FreightWaves that the driver deficit is a structural constraint that prevents the market from absorbing growing trade volumes. While equipment supply remains high, the difficulty in renewing visas and increased scrutiny of previous operations have discouraged drivers from crossing the border. In response, some Mexican firms are recruiting candidates from southern regions to provide them with specialized English and regulatory training.

Shippers are being urged to consider transloading as a solution to avoid delays. This method involves using a Mexican driver to reach the border and transferring cargo to a U.S. driver for the final leg, bypassing the need for a B-1 qualified operator. Houssami noted that while this can prevent freight from becoming stranded, the industry has been slow to adopt the practice due to concerns regarding potential cargo damage during the transfer process.

The ongoing capacity issues arrive amid broader trade uncertainties, including shifting tariff policies and potential changes to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. These factors have led some businesses to pause manufacturing expansions in Mexico. With northbound demand continuing to outpace southbound volume, Houssami warned that the current logistical difficulties for cross-border freight are "probably going to get worse before it gets better."