Laredo

Is inflation crushing e-commerce volume growth?

Walmart on Thursday announced layoffs affecting approximately 200 employees in its Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, fulfillment center. Earlier in the week, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that the e-commerce giant would cut 9,000 jobs, the latest in a string of layoffs.

Something’s happening in e-commerce, but it’s difficult to disentangle all of the data: Census Bureau numbers on seasonally unadjusted e-commerce retail sales were up 6% year over year (y/y), but they’re only current as of the fourth...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/is-inflation-crushing-e-commerce-volume-growth

Rail Roundup: Breaking ground and breaking records

CREATE breaks ground on 2 congestion-reducing projects in Chicago

The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program broke ground Tuesday on two projects aimed at improving network flows for freight and passenger trains in Chicago.

The Forest Hill Flyover project involves the construction of a bridge that the CREATE Program says will reduce conflicts between freight rail carriers Chicago Belt Railways, CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) and passenger...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-roundup-breaking-ground-and-breaking-records

$240M in produce losses blamed on truck delays at US-Mexico border

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s increased inspections of trucks created hourslong wait times for commercial traffic at key U.S.-Mexico border crossings and resulted in hundreds of millions in lost revenue because of spoiled produce, trade experts said.

Abbott ended his policy of increased inspections of commercial trucks arriving from Mexico on Friday after reaching migrant border security agreements with governors of nearby Mexican states.

About $9 billion of fresh produce crosses the Texas border from...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/240m-in-produce-losses-blamed-on-texas-truck-delays

Borderlands: Mission Produce boosts market footprint with Texas avocado import facility

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Mission Produce boosts market footprint with Texas avocado import facility; cross-border rail ferry makes maiden voyage; Magni opens new logistics facility in Texas; and CBP intercepts $24M worth of meth.

Mission Produce opens US-Mexico border avocado import facility

Mission Produce Inc. recently opened a $50 million distribution center in Laredo, Texas, aimed at...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/mission-produce-boosts-market-footprint-with-texas-avocado-import-facility

‘It was a nightmare’: A trucker’s cross-border hazmat run on 9/11

Trucks drive on the Ambassador Bridge, between Detroit and Windsor, at the U.S.-Canada border, which closed on Sept. 11, 2001.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Canadian trucker Robert Mitchell picked up a load in Toronto bound for Laredo, Texas. Mitchell, a company driver for C.A.T., expected a routine run to the U.S., though he didn’t haul hazardous material often. His trailer was loaded with steel drums filled with paint thinner, ultimately destined for an auto plant in Mexico.

Mitchell, now 70, didn’t follow the news much back then. He generally listened to CDs in his rig. But when he made a quick stop to join his...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/it-was-a-nightmare-a-truckers-cross-border-hazmat-run-on-911

Mexico shootout slows Texas border truck traffic

A shootout between gunmen and Mexican authorities has jammed up commercial traffic through Laredo, Texas, according to officials.

The incident occurred Wednesday night, when gunmen tried to enter the Mexican state of Coahuila along the U.S.-Mexico border. They were confronted by law enforcement agents, according to a statement from the Public Security Secretariat of Coahuila. 

After the incident, Mexican authorities set up checkpoints on several federal highways leading north toward Laredo...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/mexico-shootout-slows-texas-border-truck-traffic

Borderlands: Mexico trade boomed in May but profit margins tightening

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Mexico trade boomed in May but profit margins are tightening; a Korean auto supplier opens a plant in Mexico; Otay Mesa plans to open a new port by 2024; and Texas trucking company set to build terminal.

Mexico trade boomed in May but profit margins tightening, experts say

Mexico exported $40.8 billion in goods in May, a 125% increase compared to the same period in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/mexico-trade-boomed-in-may-but-profit-margins-tightening

Borderlands: Mexico exports of commercial trucks jump 277%

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Mexico exports of commercial trucks jump 277%; Eastek International opens a plant in Mexico; West Pak Avocado will open a Laredo distribution facility; and FMCSA bans a Mexico-based driver from operating in the U.S. 

Mexico exports of commercial trucks jump 277%

Truck makers in Mexico exported 12,892 units during May, an increase of 277% compared to the same period in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/mexico-exports-of-commercial-trucks-jump-277

Modernization of Cross Border Trade event returns to Laredo

After going virtual last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Modernization of Cross Border Trade annual conference returns Thursday as an in-person event in Laredo, Texas.

Borderless Coverage powered by Reliance Partners and the Laredo Motor Carriers Association are hosting the fourth-annual event, which aims to highlight U.S.-Mexico trade while having a “fun” gathering, according to Mark Vickers, executive vice president of logistics at Reliance Partners.

“With vaccinations picking up,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/modernization-of-cross-border-trade-event-returns-to-laredo

Laredo commercial border crossing slowed by storm’s aftermath

A powerful storm that wrecked havoc Monday in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, has caused a freight slowdown at the commercial border crossing in Laredo, Texas.

“Due to last night’s storm, power on the Mexico side is out and affecting north and south bound traffic,” said Armando Taboada, assistant director of field operations at the Laredo Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in an email to customs officials and media. 

“Railroad operations at Laredo are on hold due to debris on rail...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/laredo-commercial-crossing-slowed-by-storms-aftermath

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