How Laredo, Texas manages high-volume trade as the number one port of entry into the U.S.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the World Trade Bridge has been a cornerstone of North American trade. Since its construction, the bridge has significantly enhanced the speed and efficiency of cross-border commerce. 

Kent Richard, interim bridge director for the City of Laredo, sat down with Timothy Dooner and shared insights about Laredo’s thriving logistics industry and ambitious infrastructure plans.

“The greatest contribution of the World Trade Bridge lies in streamlining the supply chain,” Richard said. “We provide a dedicated commercial corridor that facilitates the movement of high-volume goods, raw materials, and just-in-time shipments,” he said.

Over the past twenty-five years, the World Trade Bridge has strengthened North America’s integrated production networks, particularly in key industries such as automotive, electronics, and perishables, ensuring that manufacturers receive components on time and businesses operate with minimal disruption. 

With tariff policy changes on the horizon, Richard is confident that Port Laredo and the World Trade Bridge will continue to see the same volume, if not more. “Tariffs will affect everyone, not just Laredo, Texas,” Richard said. 

Due to the increasing trade volume and enhanced efficiency, the World Trade Bridge will remain a vital point of cross-border commerce regardless of policy. The current expansion of the bridge crossing, which started in 2024, is set to improve intermodal connectivity and allow for higher volumes of traffic. 

“Tariff policies can influence trade flows in the short term, while in the long term there will be demand for a robust border infrastructure,” Richard said. “As of now, it remains unchanged. Given Port Laredo’s role as the number one port in the United States, federal and state governments along with private stakeholders all recognize the necessity of our ongoing expansion,” he said.

According to Richard, investments in infrastructure and automation, as well as security enhancements, will ensure that Port Laredo will remain a critical hub for North American trade regardless of shifting trade policies. 

One of the primary reasons that Port Laredo has become the dominant trade port of North America is its utilization of state-of-the-art refrigerated inspection facilities. 

“The fact that we enable the cold chain to remain unbroken from origin to destination is immensely important to North American trade,” Richard said. “It’s precisely why Port Laredo stands out as the premier gateway for temperature-sensitive shipments.”

The refrigerated inspection facilities at the World Trade Bridge are key to allowing temperature sensitive goods through the border. 

“We have three of those facilities at our two commercial bridges, which is quite unique to the Texas-Mexico border,” Richard said. “These specialized docks allow trucks to back up directly into a temperature controlled environment, preventing exposure to external conditions during inspection.” 

This cold chain process is essential for industries like pharmaceuticals, fresh produce, and perishable food products, and it enables carriers to stay in compliance with safety regulations. 

By eliminating any temperature fluctuations, Port Laredo helps reduce spoilage, extends shelf life of transported goods, and delivers high-quality goods to businesses and consumers across North America. “That kind of reliability makes Port Laredo the preferred choice for companies that depend on cold chain logistics,” Richard said.

Many commercial and non-commercial vehicles are assembled in Mexico and transported into the United States. Port Laredo plays a vital role in the North American automotive industry by facilitating the rapid movement of vehicles and vehicle parts across the border. 

“With a highly efficient customs process specializing in infrastructure and a deep understanding of just-in-time manufacturing requirements, we make sure that automotive supply chains remain uninterrupted,” Richard said. “The port’s ability to handle high volumes of auto-related shipments with precision minimizes production downtime, which reduces costs and helps North American automotive manufacturers compete in the global market,” he said. 

On average, 12,000 trailers per day circulate through the border at Laredo. Sometimes, Richard says, inspections even get up to 21,000 trucks per day. Port Laredo has to maintain strong relationships between the customs and border protections agencies in the United States and Mexico as well as private stakeholders.

“We can only achieve coordination with three levels of government in both Mexico and the United States through continuous collaboration, technology integration and well-defined protocols,” Richard said. 

By keeping those relationships open, Port Laredo is able to move trusted carriers and goods through the border much more quickly. “Our dedicated fast lane, known as our free and secure trade lane, is for vetted vehicles so they can get to the front of the line and get through,” Richard said. 

Officials from Port Laredo have regular meetings with international trade forums and maintain real-time communication with all relevant authorities, and that allows them to continue with rapid response and keep trade industries moving smoothly in and through Laredo.

Birthdays are a great time to celebrate and reflect, but they’re also a great time to look to the future. As cross-border trade continues to grow, Laredo is positioning itself as an indispensable link in global supply chains. 

With its ambitious expansion plans and long history as a center of international commerce, the “Gateway to Mexico” seems poised to play an even more prominent role in U.S.-Mexico trade in the years to come.

“In the next twenty-five years, I envision Port Laredo as the most advanced and efficient port in the world,” Richard said. “With continued investments in infrastructure, smart-border technology and automation, the port aims to handle even greater trade volumes while keeping our robust speed and security standards.” 

Sustainability initiatives will make Port Laredo an even more vital link in North America’s supply chain. 

“As trade evolves with innovations like electric and autonomous vehicles, Port Laredo will continue to adapt and ensure that it remains the premier gateway for international commerce,” Richard said. “We sure plan to continue to be the number one port in North America over the next twenty-five years,” he said. 

Click here to learn more about the City of Laredo Bridge Department.

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