Cross-Border Shipping A Mexico How-to Guide
Table of Contents Intro & Fundamentals
3
Northbound Shipping
4
Southbound Shipping
5
Ground & Air Modes Overview
6
Air Charter Best Practices
7
OBC Best Practices
8
Airfreight Best Practices
9
Information to Avoid Delays
10
How Technology Can Help
11
Quick Reference Guide
12
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Introduction Time-critical and cross-border freight requires precision, control and constant monitoring. This guide outlines the fundamentals of moving freight between the United States and Mexico and provides clarity on the timing, documentation and mode differences that protect your production cadence. Ascent supports these requirements through a 24/7/365 control tower, a vetted network of time-critical providers and our proprietary PEAK™ Marketplace, the unified and consistent view of all shipment information.
Cross-Border Shipping Fundamentals Cross-border moves differ from domestic transportation due to: •
Customs documentation and clearance requirements
•
Northbound/Southbound differences in process and timing
•
Carta Porte 3.0 compliance
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Broker-led import/export filings
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Required transloads at the border
•
Airport-specific restrictions for air cargo and charter
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Increased exposure to delays if documentation is incomplete
Critical Note: Compliance Drives Speed Accurate documentation and proactive broker engagement are the most important factors in reducing border dwell time.
3
Northbound (Mexico to U.S.) Overview
Northbound Process Diagram Shipper Freight Pickup + CCP Data
General Timing Requirements •
2 hours before pickup: Unit details sent to logistics partner
•
During loading: Shipper provides CCP information
•
1 hour after CCP received: MX carrier generates intra-MX CCP
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5 hours before border arrival: Shipper provides invoice + documents
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3 hours before border arrival: US broker creates entry
•
1 hour before arrival: MX carrier creates crossing CCP
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1 hour: MX broker generates DODA
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~3 hours: MX to US border crossing
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~3 hours: Transload + outbound US delivery
MX Carrier Receives CCP Intra-MX Transit
Transit to MX Border Documents sent to brokers
MX Export Clearance + DODA MX Customs U.S. Customs
Avoiding Delays Border Crossing Transload to U.S. Carrier
Final Mile Delivery
•
Submit invoices early
•
Confirm broker assignments
•
Ensure packaging, weights, dimensions and part numbers are accurate
4
Southbound (U.S. to Mexico) Overview
Southbound Process Diagram Shipper Freight Pickup + Documents
U.S. Carrier Transit Invoice + Documents sent to MX broker
General Timing Requirements •
1 hour after pickup: Carrier provides BOL + documentation
•
Pedimento: Up to 24 hours
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1 hour after pedimento: Sent to carrier
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2 hours: Carrier creates crossing CCP
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~3 hours: Border crossing through both customs agencies
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~3 hours: Transload + MX domestic delivery
MX Pedimento Creation Within 24 hours
Critical note Transit to MX Border Crossing CCP Created
Southbound moves require formal pedimento. Incomplete invoice data is the most common cause of delays.
Customs Clearance U.S. Customs MX Customs
Border Crossing Transload to MX Carrier
Final Mile Delivery
5
Ground Modes Overview Mode
Cargo Type
Speed
Cost
Notes
Ground Expedite
For line-down, hotshot or critical recoveries
Fastest ground
$$$
Teams drivers, 24/7
Truckload+ (TL+)
Full trailer volumes
Standard ground with delivery assurance
$$
Teams drivers, 24/7
Truckload (TL)
Full trailer volumes
Standard
$
No team driver speeds
LTL (Less-thantruckload)
Palletized freight, non-urgent
Slower
$
Not recommended for time-critical
Premium Drayage (cross-border)
Border pulls, urgent Fast transfer
$$
Required for most critical crossborder moves
Air Modes Overview Mode
Cargo Type
Speed
Routing
Restrictions
Airfreight
Pallets/crates
Scheduled service, NFO/Critical, Express and Standard
Airline-dependent Airline capacity
Air Charter
Oversized, large, urgent
Fastest for large freight
Point-to-point
Airport slot availability, highest flexibility
On-Board Courier (OBC)
Small, high-value, critical
Fastest for small freight
Via commercial flight
Airline baggage limits, high flexibility
6
Air Charter Best Practices A charter requires detailed shipment and broker information at the time of request.
General Timing Overview •
1 hr: Unit loading
Information Required
•
1–2 hrs: Aircraft loading (depending on aircraft type)
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~3 hrs: Arrival to wheels up at MX airports
•
1 hr: Offload at destination airport
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Origin/destination addresses + hours
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Customer + billing details
•
Exact dims, weights, container types
•
Hazmat (UN/Class)
•
Stackability, wet tolerance, breakdown capability
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Oversized weight notes if applicable
Mexico-Specific Requirements •
Importer/Exporter of Record
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MX & U.S. broker contacts
•
Airport where customs will clear
Communication •
Full itinerary provided
•
Milestones shared via email + PEAK™
•
24/7 charter support
7
On-Board Courier Best Practices Packaging •
Sturdy, sealed containers only
•
All freight must withstand TSA x-ray screening
Baggage Limits •
Carry-on: <45 linear inches, <30 lbs
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Checked: <62 linear inches, <50 lbs
•
Up to 5 checked bags per courier (varies by airline)
•
Seasonal baggage embargos apply (varies by airline)
Mexico Airport Rules •
MTY/GDL require formal export for Northbound
•
All Soutbound moves require pedimento
Communication •
Full itinerary provided
•
Milestones shared via email + PEAK™
•
24/7 charter support
Critical Note Engage the MX broker early — OBC runs can fail if documentation lags.
8
International Airfreight Best Practices Shipment Milestones •
Pick-up
•
Origin airport
•
Export clearance
•
Airline tendering
•
Arrival + transition from airside to cargo + customs
•
Last-mile delivery
Standard Timing •
Origin documents typically submitted within 24 hours
•
Breakdown at destination within 6-8 hours
•
Broker notification within 12-24 hours before release
Critical Note Airline handling times and customs clearance durations cannot be accelerated by any forwarder.
9
Information to Avoid Delays Operational Details •
Ready time/need time
•
Facility hours
•
Accurate dimensions and weight
•
Commodity details
•
Hazmat declarations
•
Load/unload requirements
Cross-Border Details •
EOR / IOR
•
Broker assignments + contacts
•
Invoices and packing lists
•
Part numbers, descriptions, declared values
Customer Requirements for Best Results •
Provide complete documentation at the start
•
Align brokers before booking
•
Confirm facility hours, especially after-hours
•
Ensure packaging is compliant with the selected mode
•
Approve all quotes quickly
•
Engage internal teams for formal export/import needs
•
Use PEAK™ for communication to avoid email fragmentation
10
How Technology Can Help PEAK™ Marketplace Overview
PEAK™ is Ascent’s proprietary technology that connects shippers to 1,300+ vetted time-critical providers across all premium modes. It is the unified and consistent, transparent view of all shipment information for visibility, communication and documentation.
Key Strengths •
Real-time, competitive quoting
•
Coverage in minutes
•
Integrated track & trace
•
Milestone visibility
•
Mode optimization logic
•
Provider scoring for compliance and performance
•
24/7/365 control tower oversight
•
End-to-end governance and documentation retention
Performance Snapshot •
350K+ shipments moved in 2024
•
$401.7M+ cost avoidance generated
•
Bid times as fast as 2 minutes
•
Onboard 1300+ asset-based carriers
Why It Matters to OEMs and Tier Suppliers •
Reduces time-to-coverage
•
Improves accuracy
•
Protects against noncompliant providers
•
Minimizes risk of border or airport delays
•
Ensures all communication stays centralized
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Quick Reference Sheet Required Information (All Modes) •
Ready time/ need time
•
Exact dimensions and weight
•
Commodity details
•
Top Preventable Issues •
Miscommunication
Facility hours
•
Missing invoices
•
Packaging notes
•
Incorrect dimensions/weight
•
Hazmat (if applicable)
•
Unconfirmed facility hours
•
Late documentation to brokers
Cross-Border Requirements
•
Lack of EOR/IOR clarity
•
Invoice + packing list
•
Mismatched part numbers
•
EOR/IOR
•
•
Broker details
Packaging incompatible with selected mode
•
Part numbers + descriptions
•
Declared values
Air Charter •
Exact dimensions for all pieces
•
Broker contacts
•
Breakdown capability
•
Aircraft type constraints
On-Board Courier (OBC) •
Packaging must withstand x-ray
•
Weight & size limits
•
Airport-specific export/import rules
Freight Terms Glossary For definitions of Carta Porte, Pedimento, DODA, Incoterms, mode terminology and more, visit: Ascent Freight Glossary.
Ground Modes •
Ground expedite (GEX) for fastest transit
•
Truckload (TL) for full trailer
•
LTL (less-than-truckload) not recommended for urgent freight
•
Premium drayage as required at border for critical shipments
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About Ascent Ascent Global Logistics provides a complete range of logistics solutions to meet every global supply chain challenge. We provide superior customer service and state-of-the-art technology to manage your shipments effectively and efficiently. Contact Ascent Global Logistics today to learn more about shipping in Mexico.
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