Laredo Bridge Changes Aim to Cut Cargo Delays
U.S.-Mexico cross-border freight operators will receive additional weekend processing time at Laredo’s World Trade Bridge under a three-month pilot scheduled to begin Sept. 5, 2026.
Saturday hours extended at World Trade Bridge
The extended schedule applies only to the World Trade Bridge commercial crossing. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is implementing the change to provide more processing time for commercial traffic and give carriers, brokers and importers additional flexibility during peak trade periods.
Specific Saturday operating hours were not included in the available announcement. Commercial operators should confirm current bridge hours and cargo-release requirements before dispatching freight.
Policy targets congestion and commercial-vehicle delays
The initiative is intended to reduce congestion associated with commercial-vehicle U-turns and delays at the Laredo crossings. By extending Saturday operations, CBP expects to support more consistent cargo movement and improve supply-chain reliability during the pilot period.
Bridge availability remains tied to broker release procedures, cargo processing and the operating schedules of the individual crossings. The World Trade Bridge and Colombia Solidarity Bridge are the primary commercial crossings in the Laredo area.
Laredo remains a major freight gateway
Laredo is a key land-based trade hub connecting manufacturers and shippers in northern Mexico with distribution and manufacturing markets across the United States. The city’s location along Interstate 35 provides a direct north-south freight route, while nearby warehouse and cross-dock facilities support transloading and other cross-border logistics activities.
Additional Saturday processing could help carriers and importers better coordinate freight with warehouse schedules and downstream deliveries. However, shipments that require transloading may still face added handling, staging and reloading requirements after crossing the border.
CBP’s pilot is expected to provide additional data on weekend demand and the effect of expanded bridge operations on congestion and cargo flow through the Laredo Port of Entry.
