Stay ahead of market shifts with this week’s cross-border intelligence. Our experts break down capacity trends, volume patterns, and carrier activity across Mexico and Canada lanes to help you price competitively and serve customers better.
Post your spot and dedicated freight in Cargado to tap into current market conditions.
Cross-border Mexico
Carrier competition is heating up. Daily bidding activity is matching January’s pace, signaling capacity has been at full strength for two consecutive months following the holiday lull. If you’re not posting your cross-border freight yet, now’s the time to start.
Northbound
Carriers are vying for freight out of Mexico. Monterrey to Southeast lanes are especially hot with routes to Montgomery, Nashville, and Dallas seeing some of the highest bid density on the platform.
Dry van spotlight
We’re seeing high bid rates and strong carrier competition on these dry van lanes. If you have a customer moving freight out of one of these bolded markets to one of these destinations, you have a good chance of getting it covered. Go ask for the freight.
- Torreón, COA, to Baltimore, MD; Laredo, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Omaha, NE; Toronto, ON
- Nogales, SON, to Phoenix, AZ; Tucson, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; Yuma, AZ
- Monterrey, NLE, to Chattanooga, TN; Savannah, GA; Knoxville, TN; Nashville, TN; Miami, FL; Jackson, MS; Charlotte, NC; Lakeland, FL; Columbus, GA; Winston-Salem, NC; Dayton, OH; Fort Dodge, IA; Chicago, IL; Toronto, ON; Des Moines, IA; Oklahoma City, OK
Rates have been on a clear downward trend all month across all three percentiles. The p75 came off that late-January peak (~$3.80) and has steadily declined to around $3.00 by late February, a drop of nearly $0.80. The p50 similarly slid from roughly $2.85 down to ~$2.70, and the p25 has been essentially flat around $2.50. All three bands are converging toward the lower end of their 6-month range, suggesting the Mexico northbound dry van market is softening as it heads into March.
When the Demand Index is trending above the Supply Index, we have tight capacity in a given marketplace. This is an indicator that freight posted may struggle to receive bids.
Southbound
Coverage jumped 3 percentage points from January as carriers reposition equipment into Mexico. Laredo to the Bajío is the sweet spot right now, particularly Querétaro and Saltillo.
Dry van spotlight
We’re seeing high bid rates and multiple bids per posting on the lanes below. If you have a customer moving freight out of one of these origin markets to one of these destinations, you have a very good chance of getting it covered. Go ask for the freight.
- El Paso, TX, to Guadalajara, JAL; Mexico City, CMX; León, GUA; Santiago de Querétaro, QUE; Puebla, PUE
Equipment watch
Reefer: Spot rates are softening, especially on southbound lanes. That means more available capacity and better pricing for your temperature-controlled freight.
Open deck: Spot rates are ticking up and flatbed/step-deck carriers are more engaged than ever. Coverage is up 6 percentage points month over month. If you’ve been sitting on open deck freight, post now before rates climb higher.
Domestic Mexico
Dry van is the workhorse, straight truck is the surprise leader. Dry van dominates the domestic mix and runs at a 50% bid rate — functional but below its January pace. Straight truck is the standout this period, nearing 65%, with metropolitan and short-haul distribution lanes drawing consistent carrier participation. Open deck holds steady at 50%. Reefer is the most challenged at 35%, below the coverage gap threshold, meaning temperature-controlled domestic freight requires more lead time and pricing flexibility than other equipment types right now.
Monterrey is where volume and coverage actually align. When you filter for markets showing both high posting volume and strong bid rates, Monterrey stands alone, seeing more carrier engagement than any other market on the platform. The northern tier overall is performing well, the freight that carriers want to move right now is in the north.
A note on current conditions in Mexico: After a significant law enforcement operation in Jalisco on February 22, we’re seeing temporary disruptions, including roadblocks across several states that overlap with active domestic freight corridors, have contributed to some carrier pullback. Some volatility is likely to persist into Q1.
What this means for brokers and customers: Lead with Monterrey-origin freight headed to Torreón, Cuautitlán, or San Luis Potosí — those lanes are getting covered fast with real competition. The MTY → Mexico City and MTY → Guadalajara corridors are underperforming relative to volume, so build in extra time there. For reefer, plan ahead.
Dry van spotlight
We’re seeing high bid rates and strong carrier competition on these dry van lanes. If you have a customer moving freight out of one of these bolded markets to one of these destinations, you have a good chance of getting it covered. Go ask for the freight.
- Nuevo Laredo, TAM, to Ciudad Juárez, CHH; Torreón, COA; Santiago de Querétaro, QUE; San Luis Potosí, SLP
- Monterrey, NLE, to Guadalajara, JAL; Mexico City, CMX; Chihuahua, CHH; Cuautitlán Izcalli, MEX; Saltillo, COA; Monterrey, NLE; Monclova, COA; Santiago de Querétaro, QUE
- San Luis Potosí, SLP, to Monterrey, NLE
Canada
Capacity remains tight across Canada. Market conditions are causing trucks to be booked early. Cargado has observed same-day postings increased by 40% in 2026 and overall posting volumes increase. Causes of the tight market continue to be:
- Extended driver vacations: Capacity constraints are expected to persist through February into early March. A Cargado carrier survey found 20%–60% of fleets are off the road.
- Weather disruptions: Although no major snowfalls occurred last week, impacts from recent storms and extreme cold continue to affect overall capacity.
- Regulatory pressures: Tighter compliance regulations are pushing fleets out of the market and drivers toward alternative careers. This includes the closure of multiple trucking schools across the country.
Dry van spotlight
We’re seeing high bid rates and strong carrier competition on these dry van lanes. If you have a customer moving freight out of one of these bolded markets to one of these destinations, you have a good chance of getting it covered. Go ask for the freight.
- London, ON, to Richmond, VA; Cookeville, TN