Mexicali, BCN to Milwaukee, WI freight

Lanes/

The Mexicali to Milwaukee corridor runs northbound from Mexico into the U.S.

Direction

Northbound (Mexico to U.S.)

Equipment on this lane

Dry van-led corridor

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/mexicali-bcn-to-milwaukee-wi.svg" alt="Mexicali, BCN to Milwaukee, WI 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">Pickup in Mexicali, BCN</div></div><b>1 day</b></div><div class="trrow"><div class="trl"><div class="trlabel">Border crossing</div><div class="trroute">Mexicali, BCN <span class="arr">→</span> Calexico, CA</div></div><b>1–3 days</b></div><div class="trrow"><div class="trl"><div class="trlabel">U.S. leg</div><div class="trroute">Calexico, CA <span class="arr">→</span> Milwaukee, WI</div></div><b>4 days</b></div><div class="trrow tot"><span>Total transit</span><b>6–8 days</b></div></div><div class="lane-viz-title">Typical market range</div><div class="lane-rate-band" style="font-size:1.75rem;font-weight:700;color:#16295c;margin:.15rem 0 .6rem">$6K–$7K</div><a class="lane-cta" href="https://cargado.com/brokers/get-a-demo">Request a demo for detailed rates </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 Mexicali market (Mexicali, Ejido Cuernavaca, Ejido Puebla, Batáquez, Ejido Michoacán de Ocampo, and Colonia Mariano Abasolo) with the Milwaukee market (Milwaukee, Kenosha, Waukesha, Pleasant Prairie, Sheboygan, and Oak Creek), running northbound from Mexico into the U.S. Brokers post this corridor to the Cargado marketplace.

Recent carrier bids on this corridor typically land in the $6K–$7K range. Request a demo to see detailed, current rates for this lane.

What ships from Mexicali

Freight out of the Mexicali market leans toward metals and building materials, automotive parts and food and beverage based on what brokers actually post there. You can read more on the freight types pages.

Equipment on this corridor

Dry van-led corridor. Browse equipment definitions in the glossary if a term is unfamiliar.

Where this lane picks up

Carriers on this lane pick up across the Mexicali area: Mexicali, Ejido Cuernavaca, Ejido Puebla, Batáquez, Ejido Michoacán de Ocampo, Colonia Mariano Abasolo, Nuevo León, and Ejido El Choropo. Nearby markets that feed it include Calexico, San Luis Río Colorado, Yuma, Tecate, and Blythe.

Where this lane delivers

Carriers on this lane deliver across the Milwaukee area: Milwaukee, Kenosha, Waukesha, Pleasant Prairie, Sheboygan, Oak Creek, Sturtevant, and Menomonee Falls. It also reaches nearby markets like Madison, Rockford, Chicago, Green Bay, Gary, and Grand Rapids.

Border crossing

Most freight on this corridor crosses at Calexico East. 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 Calexico East crossing page.

Brokers post corridors like this to Cargado's marketplace, where vetted Mexico and Canada carriers bid and every counterparty is vetted before the first load moves.

More lanes from these markets

Every lane guide for Mexicali is listed on its lane hub, by direction and destination country.

The markets on this lane

Origin 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.

Destination market

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee is a precision-manufacturing freight market, with foundry parts, hydraulic systems, diesel engines, aviation components, industrial controls and robotics, plus an industrial park corridor along I-94 toward the Illinois line. Canada and Mexico are Wisconsin's two largest export markets, and rail freight to Mexico interchanges in Chicago. Port Milwaukee adds Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway access, and a new air cargo facility at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is projected for completion in 2026.

Industries: Industrial machinery and controls, electrical equipment and electronics, aviation components and diesel engines, steel and bulk by water, warehousing and distribution

Seaport: Great Lakes and Seaway port with Union Pacific and CPKC rail service. 16 berths (operating). Source
Airport air cargo center: Air cargo facility at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, with a dedicated air cargo building. 337,000 sq ft facility, capacity for five B747-400 aircraft at once (under construction). Source
Rail yard: Muskego Yard freight rail bypass, adding a double-track mainline through the yard, with construction expected in 2028 if funded (proposed). Source
Industrial park: Master-planned corporate park off I-94 at Route 165 in Kenosha County. 2,000 acres, 80+ companies, over 8,500 employees, over 10 million sq ft of development (operating). Source
Industrial park: Village-owned corporate park for manufacturing, office and commercial uses at County Highway Q and I-94, a couple of miles north of the Wisconsin-Illinois border. Approximately 360 acres. Source
Plants: Precision manufacturing of foundry parts, hydraulic systems, diesel engines, aviation components, industrial controls and robotics. Hundreds of smaller precision manufacturers. Source

Distribution: Industrial parks along I-94 in Kenosha County, and Port Milwaukee berths with direct pier delivery by Union Pacific and CPKC rail.

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 Mexicali to Milwaukee?

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 Mexicali to Milwaukee corridor?

Postings here are mostly dry van. 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, 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 2,400+ vetted Mexico and Canada carriers, or check market rates built from real carrier bids before you quote.

Get a demo Request access See shipper rates