Tariffs create frenzy in cross-border trucking

The tariff whiplash of the past week required trucking carriers and shippers to closely monitor the changing landscape surrounding import duties, which could shift again next month.

Tariffs have been suspended on all imports that are compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement — but only until April 2, the White House announced Thursday. The notice also followed a tariff exemption for car imports from Mexico and Canada.

Cross-border trucking plays a large role in supply chains, and carriers have been staying in regular contact with customers to help them navigate ongoing uncertainty.

“The impact of tariffs on cross-border trade is tremendous. Many big shippers have already stopped shipping,” Justin Danks, VP of operations at Sunset Transportation, told Trucking Dive in an email Wednesday. 

Here’s what trucking and logistics companies are saying about what they’re seeing, how they’re navigating cross-border disruptions, and what’s top of mind for customers as tariffs remain an uncertainty.

Estes Express Lines confronts cross-border slowdown

“One of the things that we’ve experienced is longer delays at all the border crossings across Canada, and even slowdowns into Mexico. So first thing we’re learning is things are taking longer to get across the border. And we don’t know all the reasons for that, right? Is that two countries mad at each other, and so they’re just [deciding] you’re gonna sit here for a while? Or is it an actual function of the tariffs? We don’t know, but we’ve been giving [customers] updates on that, and then we’ve had to communicate what role we play in it. 

“What we’re doing is, at least weekly, sending something out to our sales team so they at least know the basics, and then they can address it specifically with the customer.