B-1 Driver Shortage Tightens US-Mexico Freight Capacity

A structural shortage of B-1 visa truck drivers is creating a capacity crunch on the US-Mexico border, particularly at the critical Laredo gateway. Uber Freight reports that increased federal enforcement since early 2026 has reduced the available driver pool just as northbound freight demand continues to surge, creating significant backlogs in Nuevo Laredo and forcing carriers to implement revenue management strategies. The problem is not equipment scarcity, there are roughly nine trailers available for every driver, but rather a fundamental shortage of qualified cross-border drivers compounded by stricter cabotage enforcement, English-language proficiency requirements, and increasingly difficult B-1 visa renewals.

The demand-supply imbalance is creating pricing pressure and operational complexity for shippers. Cross-border freight values through Laredo increased 19.36% year-over-year in May, while produce exports rose 8% in Q2, yet the driver pool has declined 6.3% between December and June. Spot market rates are significantly outpacing contract rates as carriers capitalize on limited capacity.

Mexican carriers are responding by recruiting and training drivers from southern Mexico, but this longer-term strategy offers no immediate relief. Shippers are being forced to reconsider logistics strategies, with transloading emerging as a viable alternative that decouples southbound Mexican drivers from northbound movements, effectively tapping a much larger US domestic driver pool. For supply chain professionals, this represents a watershed moment where traditional cross-border practices must be re-evaluated and contingency plans activated.