b'4American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comSPONSORED CONTENTPort Laredo: Inside Americas #1 portHandling $1.13 billion in freight, Port Laredo is Americas #1 port in monetary terms for good reasonsand Laredo is working to keep that lofty ranking.By Pete Goldin, AJOTEvery day, between 15,000 and 18,000 trucksment of infrastructure, policy, and bi-national trust cross the border at Laredo, carrying freight worth anthat turns location into leverage.estimated $1.13 billion. In 2024, Port Laredo pro-cessed $339 billion in total trade$210.8 billion inB I -n atIOnalt rust (EXPANDScontinued from page 2)imports and $128.3 billion in exportsaccordingPort Laredo spokesman Mayor Dr. Victor Trev- structure spanning over the Rio Grande from Laredo, to the US Census Bureau. This impressive accom- iowhose great, great grandfather was a founderTexas, to Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipasthe only rail-plishment made Port Laredo the #1ofLaredoin1755believesthatroad bridge crossing the river and linking the two cities. port in America, surpassing all otherregionalculturalconnectionsalsoCompletion of the dual-track railway bridge late last US seaports, airports, and land cross- foster the growth in trade between theyear more than doubled Canadian Pacific Kansas City ings, including Los Angeles, Hous- U.S. and Mexico, and the high perfor- (CPKC) capacity to move freight across the border. ton, and Chicago. mance of Port Laredo in particular. TheOttensmeyerbridgeprojectalsoincluded WhatisthesecrettoPortLar- Wehaveagreatdealofinter- enhanced border security investments such as a new edos success? Geography is a start.nationalcollaboration,theMayorVACIS X-ray railcar inspection system and surveil-The port is located on the route of theexplains.Werethesamepeople,lance cameras.former Pan American Highway, nowand we have the same goals. The first called I-35 in the US, and Laredo isthing is mutual respect, followed byI nternatIOnalB rIdge4/5the only US port directly connectedfriendship, and then international rela- In 2024, Laredo received a Presidential Permit totwoMexicanstates:Tamaulipastionships. I think those relationshipstoconstructthenew4/5InternationalBridgeto and Nuevo Len. have contributed a lot to our successconnect with State Highway 359 and Interstate 35, Laredos location not only facili- Mayor Dr. Victor Trevio at Port Laredo. which leads to San Antonio. Bridge construction is tates trade with Mexico but also Central and SouthMayor Trevio adds that the local cultural andexpected to start in the next five years.America.ProductsfromColombia,Brazil,Peru,linguistictieshelpthetwocountriescollaborate. andotherLatin AmericancountriespassthroughLaredos commitment to bi-national trust is appar- l aredO -C OlOmBIas OlIdarItyB rIdgeMexican ports like Manzanillo and Veracruz on theent in the ports joint inspections between US Cus- On June 13, 2025, Laredo received a Presiden-way north to US markets via Laredo. toms and Border Patrol (CBP) and Mexicos SAT intial Permit to expand the Laredo-Colombia Solidar-However,geographyalonedoesntexplainthree modes: bridge, air, and cold chain zones. ity International Bridge. The project will add two Port Laredos rise, counters Felipe Romero, Com- Romero says, We work as a team, not only herenew four-lane spans for commercial traffic parallel munications Lead for Port of Laredo. Its the align- (LAREDOcontinued on page 6) (EXPANDScontinued on page 6)TITLESPONSORTHE HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONFERENCE IS BACK!JOIN US IN HOUSTON, TX Larger conference spaceMore panel sessionsExpanded conference focusNovember 2-5, 2025 Enhanced networking opportunitiesHilton Americas-Houston, Texas Special Celebrity SpeakerBuy Your Tickets Today!REGISTER Early Bird Pricing Ends August 31.Visit our website:www.porthouston.com/himc'