Monterrey, Nuevo León to Houston, TX freight

The Monterrey to Houston 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/monterrey-nle-to-houston-tx.svg" alt="Monterrey, NLE to Houston, 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">Monterrey, NLE <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">Laredo, TX <span class="arr">→</span> Houston, TX</div></div><b>1 day</b></div><div class="trrow tot"><span>Total transit</span><b>3–5 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">$2K–$3K</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 Monterrey market (Ciudad Apodaca, Monterrey, Santa Catarina, General Escobedo, Salinas Victoria, Ciénega De Flores) with the Houston market (Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, La Porte, Freeport, Rosenberg), running northbound from Mexico into the U.S. Over the past 12 months brokers posted this corridor to the Cargado marketplace regularly.

Recent carrier bids on this corridor typically land in the $2K–$3K range. Request a demo to see detailed, current rates for this lane.

What ships from Monterrey

Freight out of the Monterrey market leans toward automotive parts, machinery and industrial equipment and consumer goods 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.

Cargado's marketplace brings verified carriers to corridors like this one, with carrier vetting handled before bidding and banded rate context available in the product.

More lanes from these markets

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

The markets on this lane

Origin market

Monterrey, NLE

Monterrey freight is driven by export manufacturing: transport equipment, computing and electronics, electrical apparatus and machinery. Nuevo León reported US$33.1 billion of exports in the first half of 2026, third among Mexican states, with transport equipment the largest sector at 30.3%. Northbound loads cross at Laredo, including the Colombia bridge.

Industries: Transport equipment, computing and electronics, electrical apparatus, machinery, basic metals

Border crossing: Colombia-Laredo crossing, which the Nuevo León government is working to make Mexico's main border crossing; import-lane rehabilitation began in May 2025. Source
Basic metals: Basic metal industries manufacturing in Nuevo León. US$1,213.7 million, 3.7% of state exports from January to June 2026. Source
Electrical equipment: Electrical apparatus and accessories manufacturing. 15.6% of state exports from January to June 2026; first nationally in electrical apparatus exports. Source
Transport equipment: Transport equipment manufacturing, the state's largest export sector. 30.3% of state exports from January to June 2026. Source
Electronics: Computing and electronic equipment manufacturing. 17.2% of state exports from January to June 2026. Source
Machinery: Machinery and equipment manufacturing. 14.5% of state exports from January to June 2026. Source
Inland port and rail: Interpuerto Monterrey in Salinas Victoria, with an intermodal rail terminal alongside and a Ferromex intermodal terminal about 10 km away. Customs section Salinas Victoria B, strategic bonded warehouse, 1,433 hectares (operating). Source

Distribution: A strategic bonded warehouse and customs section at Interpuerto Monterrey, an inland port with intermodal rail terminals.

Destination market

Houston, TX

Houston is the Gulf Coast's main gateway for containers, refined fuels, petrochemicals, steel and project cargo. The Houston Ship Channel is the nation's largest port by waterborne tonnage, and Port Houston's two container terminals handled a record 4.3 million TEUs in 2025. Freight moves on to Texas and the U.S. interior by Union Pacific, BNSF and CPKC rail and by truck, and toward Mexico on US 59 to Laredo.

Industries: Refined fuels, petrochemicals and plastics, containerized imports and exports, steel and project cargo, warehousing and distribution

Seaport: Two public container terminals on the Houston Ship Channel (Barbours Cut and Bayport), including a Bayport berth completed in late 2025. 4.3 million TEUs in 2025, a record (operating). Source
Seaport: Multi-purpose terminals for breakbulk, steel, grain and heavy-lift project cargo. Described by the port as the area's largest breakbulk, steel and project cargo complex in North America (operating). Source
Intermodal or rail yard: Union Pacific Settegast intermodal terminal. Container and trailer lifts, open 24 hours (operating). Source
Free-trade zone: Foreign-Trade Zone 84, managed by Port Houston, serving Harris, Waller and Wharton counties. 1,708.58 acres activated; 40 active sites (operating). Source
Airport: George Bush Intercontinental Airport cargo centers. Two cargo centers on 120 acres; more than 564,000 metric tons of air cargo handled by Houston Airports in 2025 (operating). Source
Plant: Oil refining and chemical production in the Houston region. Oil and refined petroleum products are the region's dominant export, followed by organic chemicals. Source

Distribution: Foreign-trade-zone sites in Harris, Waller and Wharton counties, and intermodal lifts at the Union Pacific Settegast terminal.

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 Monterrey to Houston?

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 Monterrey to Houston 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.

Get a demo Request access See shipper rates