All Aboard the Train to Mexico!

Did you know that Trinity is now offering yet another new service to our customers? We can now arrange intermodal shipments in and out of Mexico! This is a true door-to-door service, with no trans-loading or delays at the border – all for one price, with one invoice. You’ll only have to work with Trinity during the entire transit of the shipment, instead of having to deal with both Mexican and U.S. carriers.

Unlike highway shipments that must be trans-loaded at the border to a Mexican carrier, with intermodal, the shipments clear and cross the border while staying on the original loaded container – all the way to the consignee’s door, resulting in a lesser chance of damage or shortages due to the trans-loading. The primary border crossing points are Laredo, El Paso and Nogales – connecting intermodal service between Mexico and most major markets in the United States, moving in both directions.

There have been many recent articles in major publications about how companies are bringing manufacturing “closer to home” and establishing plants in Mexico due to lower wages, transportation costs, and shying away from more traditional trading partners like China. A great indication of this is the surge in cross-border intermodal volumes – in Quarter 2 of 2012, there were 11,461 shipments, compared to Quarter 2 of 2013, with 22,277 shipments – an increase of 94%!

Due to the large trade imbalance, the biggest cost advantage for you can be found with shipments moving south to Mexico. With all the large manufacturing located in Mexico and the need for equipment there, we can offer very competitive pricing on these shipments.

The railroads have recognized the importance of the expanding Mexican market, and they’ve invested large sums in their infrastructure to improve their service. As an example, our largest intermodal rail provider is offering service six days per week between Chicago and Monterrey. Additionally, both Mexican and U.S. customs have taken notice of the large increase in volume, and they’ve spent large amounts to modernize and automate the documentation process to avoid any delays at the border. Everyone should get on board as this train leaves the station!