Trucking News · Multi-state · November 14, 2026

Truck Freight From Mexico and Canada Hits Nearly $68 Billion in September, Up 32%, but Tonnage Barely Moves

Save to Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on X

A line of dry-van tractor-trailers at a wide commercial border plaza, seen from a high side angle in arid light — Illustration for this story. Not a photo of a specific location.

Truck freight crossing the border jumped 32% in value in September, but truck drivers are not hauling any more of it by weight.

The numbers

Federal figures show truck imports from Canada and Mexico were worth nearly $68 billion in September, up more than 32% from a year earlier, Land Line reports. The tonnage is flat. Same weight, just pricier cargo.

Imports from Mexico rose nearly 50% in value. Computer-related imports more than doubled in value, while their weight went up just 12%. Truck crossings from Mexico are down 4%.

A more valuable load is still just one load. The rate a truck driver is paid does not automatically rise with what is in the box.

A possible opening

There may be an opening for U.S. carriers. Since April 2025, about 25,000 Mexican truck drivers have reportedly lost their B-1 visas, the papers some of those drivers used to cross. Visa enforcement has also been a theme in other recent coverage, including comments from the Knight-Swift chief executive on cabotage enforcement.

Why it matters to truckers

A hotter border freight bill does not, by itself, mean more loads or better pay. The value of the cargo went up. The weight did not. Anyone selling a mile of capacity should look at the tonnage and the crossing counts, not only the dollar total.

Quick facts

September truck imports from Canada and Mexico: nearly $68 billion, up more than 32%.
Tonnage: barely moved.
Mexico imports: up nearly 50% in value.
Computer-related imports: more than doubled in value, with weight up 12%.
Truck crossings from Mexico: down 4%.
About 25,000 Mexican truck drivers have reportedly lost B-1 visas since April 2025.