Origin market
Industries:
Distribution:
Calexico, CA to Mexicali, Baja California freight
The Calexico to Mexicali corridor runs southbound from the U.S. into Mexico and typically crosses at Calexico East – Mexicali.
Direction
Southbound (U.S. to Mexico)
Equipment on this lane
Dry van-led, with reefer and open deck 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/calexico-ca-to-mexicali-bcn.svg" alt="Calexico, CA to Mexicali, Baja California 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">Border crossing</div><div class="trroute">Calexico, CA <span class="arr">→</span> Mexicali, BCN</div></div><b>1–3 days</b></div></div><a class="lane-cta" href="https://cargado.com/brokers/get-a-demo">Get a demo <span class="arw">→</span></a><div class="lane-viz-fine">Estimate covers the border crossing between these two border markets. Local pickup and delivery add time, and border dwell varies with documentation and crossing.</div></div></div>
This corridor connects the Calexico market (Calexico, El Centro, Holtville, Heber) with the Mexicali market, running southbound from the U.S. Over the past 12 months brokers posted this corridor to the Cargado marketplace.
What ships from Calexico
Freight out of the Calexico market leans toward fresh produce, consumer goods and automotive parts 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 reefer and open deck demand. Browse equipment definitions in the glossary if a term is unfamiliar.
Border crossing
Most freight on this corridor crosses at Calexico East – Mexicali. Loads either run direct with a through-trailer or transload at the border. Compare what each bid includes for the transfer and for border wait time before you book. See transloading and the Calexico East – Mexicali crossing page.
Cargado is a modern marketplace for Mexico and Canada freight, where brokers post loads and vetted carriers bid on them.
The markets on this lane
Destination market
Mexicali, BCN
Mexicali is a border manufacturing city whose merchandise exports are mostly computing and electrical equipment, with farm products making up the rest. Freight crosses at the Calexico East truck port and continues by road or by Ferromex and Union Pacific rail. The local maquiladora association counts 250+ member companies and 91,000 direct jobs.
Industries: Computing equipment, electrical equipment, maquiladora export manufacturing, agriculture
- Customs: Calexico East cargo port of entry. 446,835 truck entries from Mexico in 2025 (operating). Source
- Plant: Maquiladora export plants in Mexicali. 250+ member companies (IMMEX exporters and supplier allies) and 91,000 direct jobs, per the maquiladora association. Source
- Plant: Computing and electrical equipment manufacturing for export. 96 percent of merchandise exports, which totaled US$3,776.4 million in the first quarter of 2025; farm products 4 percent. Source
- Customs office: Aduana Sede Mexicali II, import Mon-Fri 8:00 to 20:00 and Sat 10:00 to 14:00, export Mon-Fri 7:00 to 20:00 and Sat 10:00 to 17:00 (operating). Source
- Rail: Ferromex and Union Pacific train service in Mexicali; the railroads and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agreed to adjust rail schedules in April 2024 (operating). Source
- Airport: Mexicali International Airport. 2,601 m runway (operating). Source
Distribution: Warehouse, trucking and transload operations serving the Calexico East crossing, the Mexicali customs office and its rail customs section.
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 Calexico to Mexicali?
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 Calexico to Mexicali corridor?
Postings here lean dry van-led, with reefer and open deck demand. 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 Calexico East – Mexicali, 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.