Mexican Truckers - Granted Use of Texas Highways

The issue of Mexican truckers granted use of Texas highways is an important and ongoing struggle. If you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident related to the Mexican trucking industry and trade, and you are in or around the San Antonio region, you may require the legal aid of an experienced San Antonio truck accident lawyer to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Thankfully, a Carabin Shaw attorney is here for you.

Cross-border trucking rules distinguish international shipments from domestic freight transportation. Mexico-based carriers with the appropriate operating authority may transport international cargo between Mexico and authorized destinations in the United States. They may not provide ordinary domestic freight transportation between two U.S. points. The state of Texas is particularly affected by trade legislation as it pertains to Mexican/American import and export regulations.

The North American Free Trade Agreement took effect in 1994, during the Clinton Administration. The inception of NAFTA facilitated ease of trade and movement of goods between the three countries. Key among the principles set forth by the formulation of NAFTA was an allowance of increased flow of trucks containing imports and exports between borders of the three nations. Although it was a valiant concept, obstacles of enforcement arose quickly. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, replaced NAFTA on July 1, 2020, according to the U.S. Trade Representative.

Then, in 2007, during George W. Bush's presidential tenure, the government began a demonstration program to expand cross-border trucking operations with Mexico. That program ended in 2009 after Congress withdrew funding. In 2011, the Obama Administration launched another pilot program allowing participating Mexico-based carriers to operate beyond the border commercial zones. These commercial zones have boundaries defined under federal regulations; they are not a uniform 25-mile "safe zone." Following completion of the 2011-2014 pilot program, FMCSA announced in January 2015 that it would accept applications from Mexico-based carriers seeking long-haul operating authority beyond the commercial zones. Federal Register announcement

Opening up the American and Mexican borders to country-to-country commercial trucking trade commerce has been a hot issue for decades. Federal rules now establish the registration, operating authority, insurance, and safety requirements that Mexico-based carriers must meet to operate on U.S. highways.

The legal nuances of claims and cases surrounding Mexican truckers granted use of Texas highways can be confusing and difficult to understand for many reasons, even to lawyers. These cases may require examination of the carrier's operating authority, applicable insurance coverage, and compliance with U.S. safety requirements. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Laredo recorded 2,945,388 inbound truck crossings from Mexico in 2025, accounting for 38.8 percent of all inbound truck crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border. These figures count crossing events, not unique trucks or drivers, and do not establish their nationality. As with any commercial truck traffic, careless driving, negligent conduct, or unsafe equipment can bring about an accident.

Mexico-based carriers operating in the United States are subject to applicable federal safety regulations. Long-haul applicants undergo a preauthorization safety audit addressing driver qualifications, drug and alcohol testing, insurance, and safety management. Carriers must obtain the appropriate registration and operating authority before beginning operations. These requirements are explained in FMCSA's cross-border operating guidance. When an accident occurs, evidence about the particular driver, carrier, and vehicle is needed to determine whether negligent hiring, inadequate qualifications, equipment defects, or other safety failures contributed to the crash.

Contact the attorneys at Carabin Shaw today to learn about your options. Our experienced team of lawyers in the San Antonio region will fight at all costs to fight for your rights and receive due recompense for any injuries or inconveniences accrued in an accident related to the Mexican trucking industry and semi-truck accidents/18 wheeler accidents. Each claim is important to us; each client is important to us. For a free consultation, contact the lawyers at our San Antonio office today at (888) 738-1311, or toll-free at 866-316-6472.