Breaking

Nearshoring Momentum Faces Driver Shortage, Customs Headwinds at Border

Nearshoring continues fueling cross-border commerce between the U.S. and Mexico despite geopolitical uncertainty. However, tightening driver capacity and stricter enforcement threaten to complicate and raise costs for shippers. Industry executives outlined the constraints at a San Diego conference this week, pointing to a shrinking pool of qualified cross-border drivers, stricter customs enforcement and increasingly sophisticated cargo theft as mounting obstacles. Nearshoring momentum remains intact as manufacturing expansions proceed. Many products—particularly automotive components—cross the border multiple times during production. However, enforcement actions targeting Mexican B-1 visa drivers and non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses are reshaping the economics of cross-border trucking operations. While companies adopt cautious strategies amid trade agreement uncertainty, executives stressed that nearshoring fundamentals remain intact.