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Cross-border trade leaders gather in Laredo amid regulatory shifts

More than 500 industry stakeholders convened in Laredo, Texas on Tuesday for the 9th Annual Modernization of Cross-Border Trade conference. Discussions focused on mounting legal challenges and security concerns, including rising broker liability exposure, evolving carrier-vetting standards, and cargo security risks as U.S.-Mexico freight operations navigate unprecedented regulatory headwinds. Jerry Maldonado, chairman of the Laredo Motor Carriers Association, underscored the city's status as North America's leading inland port while flagging uncertainty around upcoming USMCA renegotiations. Reliance Partners and Borderless Coverage hosted the conference as cross-border transportation faces sustained operational pressures. Mark Vickers, executive vice president of international logistics at Reliance Partners, cited pandemic-driven supply chain shifts that redirected freight flows through Mexico and the Port of Manzanillo, reshaping continental logistics patterns.