When it comes to Mexico cross-border shipping, one of the constants is uncertainty. Most supply chains will face disruption at some point, but those with strong contingency plans in place recover faster, protect their clients, and stay competitive.
Mexico is three times more complex and three times more likely to experience disruption than domestic U.S. freight. Yet many companies treat their Mexico operations as an afterthought—something less important than their U.S. supply chain. Ironically, when issues arise, they’re often the most time-consuming and expensive to fix, precisely because the proper planning wasn’t in place.
What really happens South of the border?
Let’s move past generalities. Here are real events that disrupted thousands of shipments in recent years, often with major financial and operational fallout:
· Customs System Outage (2022): A cyberattack on a major customs broker’s provider’s systems left clients in the dark for days. Freight sat idle while businesses scrambled to reroute with other providers. It was a stark reminder that even the most robust providers can go offline—and without a backup customs broker, your freight can get stuck.
· Laredo Port Shutdown (2023): A thunderstorm knocked out U.S. customs systems at both the Colombia and World Trade bridges, delaying more than12,000 trucks each day that the system was down. Shippers without alternate clearance procedures or brokers at other ports were forced to wait it out, incurring late fees, plant downtime, and unhappy customers.
· Customs Broker Suspensions (2025): Mexico’s SAT suspended more than 70 customs brokerage licenses due to compliance issues. Shippers tied to those brokers were left scrambling to reassign freight and clear backlogs. Those with a trusted backup broker were able to pivot quickly and avoid costly interruptions.
· Tariff Response – Bonded Warehousing (2025): During recent tariff hikes, many importers avoided sudden duty increases by diverting goods to bonded warehouses. Companies that had pre-established access to bonded facilities were able to make the switch quickly. Others missed their window, racked up unexpected costs, or were forced to delay customer deliveries.
· Mid-Transit Expedited Shipment (ongoing): It’s not uncommon for a shipment to suddenly become time-sensitive after it leaves the shipper’s dock, due to a change in production schedules, faulty components, or delivery window shifts. Asset-based carriers without flexibility are often unable to react fast enough. In contrast, shippers with access to transfer carriers, transload facilities, and vetted expedited partners can switch gears and deliver on time.
· Non-Traditional Theft (ongoing): In certain cases, even when police stop the theft of a shipment while it is occurring, they have been known to confiscate the goods, making it difficult and expensive for the clients to recover their property. This typically results in a claim. Some shippers self-insure or have restrictive global insurance policies which make it difficult to get paid in Mexico, rather than door-to-door coverage from a trusted provider that can enable quicker payment.
These examples aren’t fringe cases. This is business as usual in Mexico logistics.
Why U.S. playbooks don’t work South of the border
U.S. supply chains benefit from mature infrastructure, consistent enforcement, and relatively predictable regulations. Most companies have SOPs and backup plans in place for domestic operations. But when it comes to Mexico, even the most sophisticated U.S. shippers often treat it as a miscellaneous expense—something managed on the fly or handed off to a third party without scrutiny.
The reality? Mexico’s transportation landscape involves many risks, including armed robbery, political unrest, labor strikes, road washouts, and regulatory volatility—all of which require more robust planning.
One idea for creating a basis for your contingency plan stands out: Build your corporate plan for the worst possible scenario. If your supply chain relies heavily on Mexico, your planning can’t stop at the U.S. border. You need to know what happens if a port closes, a license is suspended, or your shipment becomes critical overnight. Most of all, you need a team that can keep your freight moving when that happens.
What a strong plan looks like
Smart shippers build plans for resilience, not convenience. Here’s what an effective cross-border contingency strategy includes:
· Multiple customs brokers at key ports (Laredo, El Paso, Brownsville, etc.)
· An asset and broker network that provides redundant carriers and crossing options for each region
· Access to bonded and transload facilities to pivot freight as needed
· Pre-approved escalation protocols, including legal documentation and POA coverage
· Carta Porte and customs documentation readiness
· Ongoing monitoring of social, political, and weather-related events that can disrupt freight flows
The best time to build this plan was yesterday. The next best time is right now.
Questions to ask to ensure preparedness
A contingency plan is more than a spreadsheet, it’s a mindset. It starts by asking the right questions:
· Are you relying on a single carrier or crossing point?
· If your customs broker loses their license or their system goes down, how quickly can you switch?
· If a shipment becomes expedited mid-transit, can you reroute it through a bonded warehouse or transload it onto a faster carrier?
· Do you have backup solutions and redundancy already built into your strategy?
Ask these questions while preparing for worst case scenarios. Don’t wait for them to happen.
Ultimately, whether it’s a surprise weather event, a cyberattack, or a load that turns urgent mid-transit, disruptions will happen. The question is: Will your provider be ready? You don’t need a vendor. You need a partner, one with the foresight, flexibility, and experience to keep your supply chain running when the unexpected becomes reality.
Because if any of these things happen tomorrow, will your freight keep moving?
Once you've developed a plan, be sure to update it regularly to keep up with industry developments and market changes. Incorporate strategies that can be applicable to both the U.S. and Mexico side of the transportation business. Find a provider that prioritizes your needs and has the bandwidth to handle a fluid market. Lots of providers can bring freight from Point A to Point B, but not all are equipped to reduce risk. With an expert team by your side, keeping freight safe and secure doesn’t have to be complicated.
