Are you ready to take advantage of booming cross-border trade between the US and Mexico? Navigating cross-border LTL shipping to Mexico can feel overwhelming, but with XPO as your partner, it's a smooth journey. Here's our streamlined cross-border shipping checklist for freight transportation that is safe, secure and on-time. 

 1. Choose a carrier with deep experience in shipping to Mexico. They should have:

  • Local knowledge and extensive experience operating across the US-Mexico border.
  • Bilingual staff who can converse with personnel at the border as well as in Mexico. 
  • Established security protocols and policies to reduce the risk of theft.
  • Electronic document filing and real-time tracking.
  • Competitive transit times and reliable on-time performance.
  • Easy access to customer support. 

2. Protect your goods to keep them safe in transit.

  • Load freight in strong crates or on pallets with shrink wrap to improve handling on the dock and prevent shifts in transit.
  • Use ample internal packaging, such as bubble cushioning, paper filling or foam cushioning. 
  • Label all sides of the freight with contact information for the shipper and consignee. Use precautionary labels when special handling is required (e.g., “Fragile”).   
  • If you’re shipping hazardous materials, check with your LTL carrier and customs broker to ensure the goods are permitted to cross the border and determine if there are special requirements for labeling and paperwork. 

3. Partner with a customs broker.

  • A customs broker, or freight forwarder, ensures your shipment clears customs smoothly by reviewing the customs declaration, confirming which duties and taxes owed, and assisting with payment.  
  • Look for a broker who knows your industry, as rules and regulations can differ. You should also verify that your broker has offices in the ports you ship into and strong local relationships.
  • XPO can assist with choosing a broker. You can also visit the US Customs and Border Protection website for a list of approved customs brokers. 

4. Assemble the required documentation, including:

5. Schedule the pickup.

  • Contact your LTL carrier to get a rate quote, noting the border crossing location for your shipment.
  • Then, you can schedule your pickup request for the date that your freight needs to ship.
  • XPO allows you to schedule your pickup online. You’ll want to create an account for seamless tracking and visibility of your shipment. 

6. Sit back and relax!

  • Your LTL carrier will assign a tracking PRO number which you can use to track the progress of your shipment from door to door.
  • On occasion, a shipment may be held “in-bond” in a secure warehouse until it can be processed by Customs and released for delivery. If an “in-bond” delay occurs for your shipment, your customs broker will assist you.
  • Finally, after the shipment is delivered, you’ll be invoiced by your carrier. XPO provides both the US and Mexico transit costs in one invoice as a convenience for customers. Any customs broker fees are billed separately.

Effortless Shipping to Mexico starts now!

Proper preparation and paperwork are key to a smooth cross-border shipping experience. But for hassle-free shipping and on-time deliveries, choose XPO – your trusted LTL partner with 40 years of Mexico expertise. Get a quote today and unlock the potential of Mexico's booming market with XPO Mexico+!

XPO Mexico+: Fast, Secure and Seamless Service to and from Nearly Every Location in Mexico

Submit your information and our Mexico+ team will contact you.

XPO Mexico+ is a major expansion of our industry-leading service to and from Mexico, purpose-built for today’s leaders in cross-border trade.

Increased capacity. More destinations. Faster deliveries. Best-in-class customer service.

Building on our four decades of cross-border expertise, XPO Mexico+ delivers an industry-leading network of border crossing points, expanded Mexico coverage and purpose-built technology to deliver our customers’ freight safely and on time, with visibility door-to-door.

XPO Mexico+ includes:

  • Expansion to seven border-crossing points to further accelerate delivery times
  • CTPAT-certified service to 99% of postal codes in Mexico
  • Significant increases in capacity for cross-border services
  • Real-time online tracking of freight from pick-up to delivery;
  • A dedicated, bilingual XPO Mexico+ concierge desk for best-in-class customer support
  • Instant online access to shipping quotes.
Ready to Elevate Your Cross-Border Shipping?

See how XPO Mexico+ has raised the bar and can provide more peace of mind for your next cross-border shipment. 

Contact us today. 

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Cross-border shipping F.A.Q.

What documents do I need when shipping to Mexico?

When shipping to Mexico you need:

What is a customs broker?

A customs broker is a licensed agent who helps shippers follow regulations governing imports and exports, including the payment of duties and taxes. To set up a customs broker for Mexico, please visit the U.S. Customs & Border Protection website for a list of approved brokers by port. Customs broker fees are not included in your rate quote. They must be obtained through your broker.

For every door-to-door shipment, customers will have their own US / Mexican brokers (they will provide the papers for the border crossing)

Do I need to report the “declared value” of my goods when shipping them to and from Mexico?

Yes, you need to declare the value of goods when shipping to Mexico or other international destinations. Customs officials will verify the declared value and contents. In most cases, the declared value is the transaction value – the price of the goods sold. Your customs broker can help you with this.

What is a customs declaration form?

A customs declaration form is the form that must be completed prior to shipping internationally. It includes:

  • The description of the goods
  • The declared value of the goods
  • The purpose of the shipment – personal, a transaction item, etc.

What is an in-bond shipment?

In-bond shipments are those that enter a country's port of entry but don’t immediately go through customs. This can happen for a few reasons. For example, LTL shipments from Canada to Mexico may remain in-bond while they transit through the United States. Or an importer may want to bring a high-duty product into the country and warehouse it before paying taxes.

In these cases, a bond is posted until the goods leave the country or clear customs at another interior location. The shipments must also be transported by a bonded carrier and stored in a bonded warehouse or other customs-controlled area.

In-bond shipments will arrive at our service center, and once we receive the in-bond cancellation from the freight forwarder, we will deliver the shipment.

What is a bonded warehouse?

A customs bonded warehouse is a building where in-bond shipments and merchandise can be stored and worked on for up to five years. As with the in-bond shipment, no duty is owed while the goods are in the facility.

Are there any restricted goods to consider when shipping to Mexico?

Restricted shipments are goods that are not allowed for shipments to or from Mexico. This can include items that are illegal, restricted by applicable laws and provisions, and more.

For more details about XPO's Mexico+ service, contact an XPO cross-border shipping expert.

 

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