The Physical Bottleneck of US-Mexico Traffic
The increase in volume at the Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge, which rose from approximately 800 trucks per day in 2022 to over 10,000 in 2026, represents a measurable and verifiable logistical breaking point. This data has been confirmed by Nuevo León Governor Samuel García and repeated by multiple journalistic publications specializing in logistics. In fact, the bridge has exceeded its physical management capacity, generating operational delays that translate into additional costs for carriers. The traffic has increased by 1000% in four years, a rate that is not sustainable without infrastructure interventions.
The saturation has directly impacted the transit time and cargo capacity of cargo ships serving nearby ports. The bridge, located 25 miles upstream from the center of Laredo, is the main channel for hazardous materials and oversized loads, as indicated by the City of Laredo. Its limited physical capacity can no longer handle the emerging demand driven by an accelerated nearshoring process in key industrial sectors.
Mandatory Logistics and Tariff Reconfiguration
The increase in volume has made it necessary to resort to alternative routes, with the expansion approved by Donald Trump in 2025 to expand the capacity of the bridge. The intervention, announced by Representative Henry Cuellar, is part of a broader plan that includes four other infrastructure projects along the US-Mexico border, making the expansion not only a response to a contingent crisis but a structural strategy. The project aims to reduce operational bottlenecks and support the growth of cross-border trade.
At the same time, the blockage has prompted companies to reconsider Incoterms and transportation routes. Carriers are evaluating the use of the ports of Houston or Brownsville as secondary hubs to reduce pressure on the bridge. These alternatives involve an increase in the unit cost of transit, estimated at approximately $150–200/TEU additional compared to the direct route through Laredo. Operational decisions are guided by predictive models that monitor waiting times and diesel prices, such as those used by the Laredo-Texas Corridor Freight Update service.
Strategic Leverage: Infrastructure Expansion and Flow Control
The bridge expansion represents a strategic lever to restore the balance between demand and capacity. The project, partially funded by the federal government, has been approved with the support of local authorities who see it as a means to maintain the competitiveness of the trade corridor. The new infrastructure will not only increase physical capacity but also enable more efficient management of hazardous goods and oversized cargo.
The strategic leverage extends to tariff control: the increase in volume has prompted the Mexican government to review the HTS codes applicable to goods in transit, with the aim of reducing congestion through incentives for goods not subject to specific controls. In addition, the City of Laredo has introduced a policy of fines of up to $2,000 for carriers who leave toll accounts in negative balance, with the aim of reducing disruptions caused by financial problems.
Impact on Margin and Working Capital
The increase in traffic has generated a significant increase in operating costs for carriers, with an estimated average transit cost increase of 18% compared to 2022. Consequently, the gross margin per load has been compressed from approximately 14% to 9%. The working capital remained immobilized for an additional average period of 3.7 days during peak periods, with a direct impact on cash flow.
The projection of doubling traffic within four years, as indicated by local authorities, suggests that the compression of margins may persist if structural interventions are not implemented. The estimated additional cost for the national logistics system is approximately $120 million per year in hidden costs related to delays and inefficiencies.
Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash
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