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Shipment essentials: for shippers

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When to choose through-trailer vs. transloading?

First, let's start with some basic definitions:

Through-trailer happens when the load is transported in the same trailer for the entirety of the process, from the pick-up point to the final destination. However, this doesn't mean that your cargo is handled by only one driver. In fact, there are usually three drivers involved in the process: a Mexican driver, a border driver, and an American one.

Transloading is the process of transferring freight from one trailer to another during a border crossing. This process tends to involve four actors: a Mexican carrier, a drayage company, a transloading facility, and an American carrier.

When to choose one over the other?

Through-trailer is usually only recommended for fragile, sensitive material that should be handled with great care. The reason why it is not used more often is due to the low availability of carriers for this service, and considerably higher prices. Therefore, transloading has become the most common option for shippers. In this case, after your cargo arrives at the border, it will be moved from one box to another in a specialized warehouse. Transloading can ensure a lot more capacity and more competitive prices, however if your shipment is extremely time sensitive, you should keep in mind that it can take longer for goods to be transferred between trailers.

There are pros and cons to both transport options. Hopefully, now you have a little more context to decide which one works best for your business.

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