Laredo Truck Rates Jump as Cross-Border Drivers Run Short

What happened

Laredo truck rates are climbing. FreightWaves reported on Oct. 13, 2026, that spot rates on border lanes are well above last year.

Here is how much spot rates rose compared with a year ago:

• Laredo to Dallas: up 43%
• Laredo to Chicago: up 35%
• El Paso to Dallas: up 28%
• San Diego to Phoenix: up 57%

The main reason is a short supply of drivers on the Mexico side. About 25,000 Mexican truck drivers lost their B-1 visas, FreightWaves said. A B-1 visa is the permit that lets a Mexican driver haul freight into the U.S. On Oct. 12, FreightWaves said that figure came from a C.H. Robinson report citing CANACAR, Mexico's trucking association.

Patricio Gutierrez of TRAFFIX, a freight company, put it simply: "The main issue here is a lack of qualified drivers."

Freight leaving Laredo is also growing. A FreightWaves SONAR index of outbound loads from Laredo rose to 51.95 on Oct. 11, up from 39.95 in mid-September.

What it means for owner-operators

More loads and fewer trucks usually mean better pay for the trucks that are ready to roll. That is what the numbers show on Laredo and El Paso lanes right now.

Another sign is the tender rejection rate. That is the share of contract loads that carriers turn down. A higher number means trucks are harder to find. In Laredo it was near 7% in early October. In El Paso it peaked at 24% to 25% in early July and is still near 20%. Nationally it moved from 5.7% to 13.8%.

FreightWaves said this tight market could last well into 2027. Nobody can promise that, so plan with care.

Higher rates also bring more people trying to grab those loads. That includes brokers you do not know. Good money is only good if you get paid.

What to do next

• Know your cost per mile before you accept a rate. Fuel, payments and repairs add up fast.
• Get every rate in writing. Do not move a load without a signed rate confirmation.
• Check every new broker before you book. Our guide on how to check a freight broker shows you the steps.
• Keep your authority current. Brokers look you up before they tender a load. See how your file looks with our SAFER company snapshot guide.
• Watch the bridges. CBP posts live wait times at bwt.cbp.gov.

If you want to run border lanes and your paperwork is not ready, now is the time to fix it.