Nuevo Laredo Truck Driver Shortage: Up to 3,000 Needed

What happened

The Nuevo Laredo truck driver shortage is growing. The area is short between 2,000 and 3,000 drivers. That is what Augusto Ramos Melo said during a visit to Nuevo Laredo. He is the national president of CANACAR (Mexico's national trucking chamber). The newspaper El Mañana de Nuevo Laredo reported it on Sept. 27, 2026.

Across Mexico, he said, the shortage is 90,000 drivers. About the same number of trucks are parked with no one to drive them. And about 15,000 drivers are close to retiring in the next three years.

There is a second problem. Many drivers have lost their B1/B2 visa (the US visitor visa many Mexican drivers use at the border). The article links this to tougher reviews and to the English-language requirement. Business groups estimate 25,000 to 30,000 visas have been pulled across Mexico.

Nuevo Laredo has about 16,000 registered drivers. Losing the visa hits the transfer and international freight fleet the hardest. Some drivers have left the crossing work or changed jobs, the paper says.

CANACAR is trying to help. This year it launched CANACAR Learn, an app so drivers can study English. It also works with Mexico's transport ministry (SICT) and technical schools to train new drivers. Ramos Melo said the job pays well.

What it means for owner-operators

Laredo is the busiest land port for trade with Mexico. When the Mexican side is short on drivers, the whole chain feels it. Transfer moves over the bridge can slow down. Some freight can wait longer to cross.

For drivers on the US side, English matters more than ever. US rules already say a CMV driver must read and speak English well enough to talk with officers and read road signs. Officers check this at the roadside. Failing it can put a driver out of service.

For small carriers, this is also a chance. A driver with clean papers and good English is worth a lot right now.

What to do next

• Practice your English for the road: signs, questions from officers, and your paperwork.
• Read our guide on the roadside English proficiency check so you know what officers ask.
• Keep your CDL, medical card, visa and other documents current. Know their expiration dates.
• If you hire drivers, check every document before the first load.
• Keep your company file in order: USDOT, MC, BOC-3 and UCR. Our filing guide walks you through it.

Need help with your permits file? Call TCZ Permits at 956-526-6727.