Trucks Stranded at US-Mexico Border Due to New Customs Policy

Freight drivers are stranded at the U.S.-Mexico border after a new customs policy restricted the crossing of empty trucks.

This disruption threatens regional logistics and supply chains by creating significant bottlenecks at critical transit points between Tamaulipas and Texas. The sudden implementation of these rules has left transport operators unable to complete their routes, impacting the movement of goods across the border.

Dozens of cargo units ^[2] have accumulated in long lines at the Las Flores International Bridge. This specific crossing connects Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas, with Progreso, Texas. Some drivers have been waiting for more than 24 hours ^[1] to pass through the checkpoint, reports said.

The congestion is the result of a new customs provision in Mexico. This regulation restricts the crossing of empty trucks through several international bridges ^[1]. While other reports have suggested different causes for border delays in other regions, the situation at the Las Flores bridge is tied specifically to these Mexican customs changes.

Transport operators have expressed frustration over the lack of coordination regarding the new rules. The backlog has created a collapse in the flow of traffic, leaving drivers stranded in their vehicles for extended periods. Because the policy affects multiple bridges, the pressure on the Las Flores crossing has intensified as drivers seek alternative routes that may also be restricted.

Local authorities have not yet provided a timeline for when the congestion will clear. The restriction on empty trucks creates a logistical paradox where drivers cannot return to their origins to pick up new loads, effectively idling a portion of the regional fleet.