Last updated: October 12, 2026
The World Trade Bridge (Puente Internacional Nuevo Laredo III) connects Laredo, Texas, with Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and carries commercial freight only. It is the busiest truck crossing between Mexico and the United States. Eilan Trade Solutions clears here every day, on the Mexican side and the U.S. side, for more than 30 years.
The bridge in brief
- Commercial freight only. No passenger cars or pedestrians.
- Most of the port’s volume. About 18,500 trucks a day cross at Laredo in both directions, most of them on this bridge.
- Expansion announced. The project would take the bridge from 8 to 18 lanes, with construction announced to begin in the second half of 2026.
- Hazardous materials. This bridge accepts only certain low-risk hazardous waste. Hazmat and oversize loads cross at the Colombia bridge.
How a shipment crosses into Mexico
- Arrival in Laredo. The freight reaches the warehouse in Laredo, where it is checked against the invoice and packing list. See the Laredo 3PL warehouse guide.
- U.S. export. Export information is filed where the transaction requires it, and any open in-bond is closed.
- Mexican import pedimento. The goods are classified, duties and taxes are paid and the pedimento is validated before the truck reaches the bridge.
- Crossing. A transfer truck takes the trailer across the bridge with its Carta Porte.
- Mexican customs. The automated selection system gives a release or sends the truck to inspection. If inspected, the goods are checked against the pedimento.
- Delivery. The Mexican carrier takes the freight to its destination.
How a shipment crosses into the United States
- Mexican export pedimento at Nuevo Laredo customs.
- U.S. entry filed with CBP before the truck arrives, with the importer’s customs bond and USMCA certification where it applies.
- Crossing and inspection. CBP releases the shipment or sends it to secondary inspection, X-ray or another agency’s review (FDA, USDA).
- Delivery or warehouse. The freight continues to destination or is received in Laredo for cross-dock or storage.
What stops a truck at the bridge
- A pedimento that does not match the goods: quantities, description or tariff classification.
- Permits or NOM compliance missing at clearance.
- A Carta Porte with incomplete data.
- Freight that should have crossed at another bridge, such as hazardous materials.
- Documents that arrive when the truck is already in line.
How Eilan helps
- Mexican customs broker in Nuevo Laredo and U.S. customs broker in Laredo: the pedimento and the entry on the same shipment, from one team.
- 200,000 sq ft of warehouse space in Laredo with our own team to check the freight before it crosses.
- Cross-border trucking and coordination of the crossing.
- CTPAT and OEA certified.
- For high-volume shippers: the Corporate Program.
Frequently asked questions
Can hazardous materials cross at the World Trade Bridge?
Generally no. This bridge accepts only certain low-risk hazardous waste. Hazardous materials cross at the Colombia-Solidarity bridge, which is also part of the Port of Laredo.
Do I need a customs broker on each side?
Each country requires its own clearance: the pedimento in Mexico and the entry in the United States. You can hire two companies or one that operates on both sides. Eilan files both on the same shipment.
Should I cross at the World Trade Bridge or at Colombia?
It depends on the goods and the destination. The World Trade Bridge is the usual route for general freight to Nuevo Laredo and central Mexico. Colombia is required for hazardous materials and oversize loads, and connects directly to Monterrey.
Request a quote
Send us your shipment details: product, origin, destination and volume. Request a quote or call +1 (956) 717-4150, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Central.
Before you dispatch: see the live commercial wait times for the World Trade Bridge and the Colombia bridge, and find out which documents are missing with the pre-crossing document check.
Traffic figures and expansion details as published by authorities and trade press in 2026.