Shuttling Goods Across the U.S.–Mexico Border
The Trump administration has approved a $10 billion infrastructure project that will speed up freight crossings over the U.S.–Mexico border—via an elevated transit system for self-driving shuttles (The Wall Street Journal, subscription).
What’s going on: Austin, Texas–based Green Corridors received a presidential permit to construct a 165-mile “guideway” connecting Laredo, Texas, and Monterrey, Mexico, using autonomous diesel-electric hybrid shuttles to carry cargo.
- The system would operate like a monorail, with truck drivers dropping off 53-foot trailers at terminals before shuttles transport them across the border.
- The company plans to build four terminals of about 100 acres each, with two on each side of the border.
Why it matters: Trade volume at the Port of Laredo has surged 28% since 2019, with more than 3 million truck crossings last year.
- Current wait times average 45 minutes on weekday afternoons at existing bridges, creating supply chain bottlenecks for imports of auto parts, vehicles, appliances and electronics.
How it will work: The guideway would run alongside existing truck and rail operations, reducing congestion at this busy crossing.
- Green Corridors will charge toll fees for companies using the service, focusing on trips under 200 miles rather than competing with long-haul railroads.
What’s next: Green Corridors still needs Mexican government permits and must negotiate with landowners before construction can begin.
- The company expects to complete the project and enter testing by 2031, with the presidential permit expiring in five years if construction has not started by then.
NAM advocacy: As the U.S., Canada and Mexico prepare to discuss the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, the NAM remains one of the staunchest proponents of U.S. trade with the countries on its borders, having played an instrumental role in securing the USMCA in the first place.”
- The stakes remain high, as International Trade Administration data show: one-third of U.S. imported manufacturing inputs originate in Canada and Mexico.