Altamira, Tamaulipas to Laredo, TX freight

The Altamira to Laredo corridor runs northbound from Mexico into the U.S. and typically crosses at Laredo (World Trade Bridge).

Direction

Northbound (Mexico to U.S.)

Equipment on this lane

Dry van-led, with open deck and reefer demand

Carrier availability

Vetted carriers cover this corridor

Marketplace activity

Posted by brokers on the Cargado marketplace

<div class="lane-viz"><div class="lane-viz-mapwrap"><img class="lane-viz-map" src="https://cargado-lane-maps.pages.dev/altamira-tam-to-laredo-tx.svg" alt="Altamira, TAM to Laredo, TX freight route map on Cargado" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="620"></div><div class="lane-viz-panel"><div class="lane-viz-title">Transit time</div><div class="tr"><div class="trrow"><div class="trl"><div class="trlabel">Mexico leg</div><div class="trroute">Altamira, TAM <span class="arr">→</span> Nuevo Laredo, TAM</div></div><b>1 day</b></div><div class="trrow"><div class="trl"><div class="trlabel">Border crossing</div><div class="trroute">Nuevo Laredo, TAM <span class="arr">→</span> Laredo, TX</div></div><b>1–3 days</b></div><div class="trrow"><div class="trl"><div class="trlabel">U.S. leg</div><div class="trroute">Delivery in Laredo, TX</div></div><b>1 day</b></div><div class="trrow tot"><span>Total transit</span><b>3–5 days</b></div></div><a class="lane-cta" href="https://cargado.com/brokers/get-a-demo">Get a Rate <span class="arw">→</span></a><div class="lane-viz-fine">Estimated drive time by road, split at the border. Border dwell varies with documentation and crossing.</div></div></div>

This corridor connects the Altamira market (Altamira, Tampico, Tamuín, Miramar, Moralillo, Tamos) with the Laredo market, running northbound from Mexico into the U.S. Over the past 12 months brokers posted this corridor to the Cargado marketplace.

What ships from Altamira

Freight out of the Altamira market leans toward chemicals and additives, automotive parts and machinery and industrial equipment based on what brokers actually post there. You can read more about moving these goods on the freight types pages.

Equipment on this corridor

Dry van-led, with open deck and reefer demand. Browse equipment definitions in the glossary if a term is unfamiliar.

Border crossing

Most freight on this corridor crosses at Laredo (World Trade Bridge). Loads either run direct with a through-trailer or transload at the border, and the transfer step is priced into carrier bids. See transloading and the Laredo (World Trade Bridge) crossing page.

This corridor is one of many corridors with real bid history on Cargado, the marketplace connecting brokers with verified Mexico and Canada carriers.

More lanes from these markets

Every lane guide for Altamira and Laredo, TX is listed on their lane hubs, by direction and destination country.

The markets on this lane

Origin market

Altamira, TAM

Altamira and Tampico form the Gulf of Mexico industrial port hub of southern Tamaulipas. The Port of Altamira handled about 18.5 million metric tons in 2025, ranks fourth nationally in cargo, and moves petrochemical and plastics inputs, containers of auto parts and steel, and 475,441 vehicles in 2025. Freight reaches Monterrey (about 490 km) and the Reynosa and Matamoros border area by the Tampico-Victoria-Monterrey highway and by Ferromex and CPKC rail.

Industries: Petrochemicals and plastics, vehicles and auto parts, containerized manufacturing inputs, steel and oversized cargo, bulk minerals and agriculture

Seaport: Industrial port complex with 15 marine terminals, 24 berths and a 13.5 m draft. 18,455,537 metric tons in 2025 (operating). Source
Container and general cargo terminals: Terminals handling containers, loose general cargo, steel and oversized pieces. 922,137 TEU and more than 7.1 million metric tons of containerized cargo in 2024 (operating). Source
Vehicle export terminals: Terminals for finished-vehicle exports. 475,441 vehicles in 2025, third nationally, down from the 2024 record (operating). Source
Petrochemical and industrial zone: Port development zone with more than 50 industries. 5,098 ha; resins, PVC, PET, polypropylene, synthetic rubber and plastic additives (operating). Source
Offshore and oversized cargo: Port facilities designed for handling offshore oil platforms, specialized equipment and the support vessels used in offshore exploration and production (operating). Source
Rail and bonded yards: Ferromex and CPKC rail service, an authorized bonded warehouse and a strategic bonded zone. 9.3 ha authorized bonded warehouse (operating). Source

Distribution: Bonded warehouses and rail-served storage yards at the port, and a trucking network of more than 70 companies serving the port.

Destination market

Laredo, TX

Laredo is the busiest U.S. land port for trucks with Mexico, with 46.1% of U.S.-Mexico truck freight value in 2025. Computer-related machinery, electrical equipment and vehicles are the leading U.S.-Mexico truck commodities by value, and fresh produce from Mexico also crosses at Laredo.

Industries: Electronics, auto parts, electrical equipment, produce

Border crossings: World Trade Bridge and Colombia Solidarity Bridge commercial facilities. Source
Intermodal or rail yard: Union Pacific intermodal terminal handling container and trailer-on-flatcar traffic. Source
Industrial park: Gateway International Rail Park in Webb County, off IH-35 and TX 255, 19 miles from the World Trade Bridge. 1,950 acres. Source
Free-trade zone: Foreign-Trade Zone 94, Unitec Industrial Center site on Interstate 35. 682 acres, 3.51 activated (operating). Source

Distribution: Foreign-Trade Zone 94 industrial space on Interstate 35 and the rail-served Gateway International Rail Park.

Market profiles describe industries and facility types from public government, industry, port, railroad and industrial-park sources. They name no shippers, manufacturers, retailers or logistics companies.

Common questions about this lane

How do I find carriers for Altamira to Laredo?

On Cargado, brokers post the corridor and vetted carriers bid on it. Every carrier is verified before it can bid, which replaces cold-calling unknown carriers.

What equipment is available on the Altamira to Laredo corridor?

Postings here are mostly dry van, with some open-deck and reefer. If you need a type you do not see, post the load anyway. Carriers with matching equipment get notified automatically.

Does freight on this corridor transload at the border or run direct?

Both happen. Most freight crosses at Laredo (World Trade Bridge), where carriers either transfer the trailer to a cross-border drayage carrier or run direct with a through-trailer. The bid reflects the carrier's setup.

Moving freight on this lane?

Post it to 2,350+ vetted Mexico and Canada carriers, or check market rates built from real carrier bids before you quote.

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