Economic integration between Mexico and the United States isn’t limited to trade agreements or annual trade figures; it’s a daily reality along the border, where thousands of industries depend on a constant and precise flow of goods. Within this complex network, the Port of Brownsville— in southeast Texas—has become a strategic hub for northeastern Mexico, a point where manufacturing, logistics, and trade converge. For companies in Monterrey, Saltillo, Reynosa, and Matamoros, the Port of Brownsville isn’t just a destination, but an operational extension of their supply chains, a corridor that accelerates processes, reduces costs, and ensures regional competitiveness. This is no coincidence: nearly 90% of the port’s business is directly linked to Mexico, confirming the depth of this interdependence.

This deep integration, stronger than any political tension, is the focus of the conversation with William Dietrich, General Manager of the Port of Brownsville, and Ervey González, Business Development and Economic Development Associate. In an interview with T21, both emphasize that the binational ecosystem operates with an interdependent logic that cannot be halted by short-term debates. “We are a region, a highly integrated economy,” González states, underscoring that the production cycle between Brownsville and Mexico is a living example of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): raw materials arrive at the port, are processed in Mexico, and return as finished goods to the United States or Canada.

Dietrich adds a dimension that rarely appears in federal discussions: the border as a shared community. “We don’t see Mexico as another country. For us, it’s part of our community ,” he says. What for many is a dividing line, for the inhabitants of this region is a continuous territory where social life and economic activity intertwine. This reality explains why the seaport operates as a binational agent, and why any political clash immediately impacts logistical efficiency.

SLOW BORDER, GROWING RISK

Despite this, Dietrich acknowledges that the relationship between Mexico and the United States is going through a period of stagnation. His concern points to a greater risk: that Asia will capitalize on these uncertainties and move forward in attracting investments that could otherwise be consolidated in North America. “The world is in an economic war, and if Asia comes to build its factories here, that money won’t go to our people,” he states. For him, the region has already demonstrated that cooperation works; what is lacking is ensuring that political decisions don’t disrupt this balance.

One of the areas where these tensions are most evident is at border crossings. Delays and duplicated processes generate losses in the millions and disrupt just-in-time operations. “These delays in supply chains are very costly,” González points out. For this reason, both insist on reviving the joint customs model, which has already worked on this border and is currently operating in other locations with positive results. “The door is open, but we have to move faster,” Dietrich emphasizes, noting that border efficiency is key to preventing the region from losing global competitiveness.

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El cargo The Port of Brownsville, the port that beats to the rhythm of Mexico apareció primero en T21.

First came U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order in April 2025 requiring all trucking operators to demonstrate proficiency in English to drive on U.S. roads.

Then, the Secretary of  Transportation  of our northern neighbor,  Sean P. Duffy , signed a  new guideline that leaves those who do not comply with that rule “out -of- service” starting June 25.

And as if it were a new chapter in a saga, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) seems determined to keep up the pressure and has issued a new recommendation: transportation managers must interview their operators in English as part of the qualification process.

Until recently, interviewing an operator meant checking their experience, license, driving record, and, if applicable, their basic English proficiency. Today, language is no longer an accessory: it’s part of the filter.

And it’s not just about saying hello. The interview should include questions that determine whether the operator is capable of handling an inspection: what is the origin and destination of their trip, how long they’ve been in service, what their license says, what cargo they’re carrying, and what equipment is being inspected. All without the help of apps , translators, or support cards.

At least one operator has already been removed from service for being unable to communicate in English during an inspection, and although the official implementation is scheduled for June 25, some inspectors have already begun to apply the criterion. This was stated by Juan Carlos Varela , director of the Transportation Division in  Palos Garza .

To address this new scenario, the company hired bilingual instructors and implemented a rotating training program with sessions before and after each crossing.

“We provide two hours of training before the export trip and two hours upon return. We also use recorded audio for reinforcement. We can’t allow language to be a barrier to continuing to operate,” Varela explained.

According to the FMCSA, this checkpoint must not only check whether the driver can communicate with officers on the road, but also whether the driver understands traffic signs . Therefore, it suggests that the manager select some signs from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and ask the driver to explain their meaning.

This part can be answered in Spanish, as long as the manager understands, but everything else must be done in English.

In this regard, Ángel Hernández, general manager of  Super Transporte Internacional (STI) , has begun strengthening internal filters . Although his company has not reported any sanctions for this reason, they are already preparing for what could be a stricter application of the requirement.

“There hasn’t been a general situation where there have been a high number of violations, there haven’t been, but it can be forced,” he warned.

As part of this preventive strategy, they have incorporated basic language assessments supported by official materials .

“We’re administering some small language proficiency tests, and CECATI (Industrial Work Training Centers) also gave us some guidelines,” Hernández explained.

From his experience at the border, Héctor Hinojosa, delegate of the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) , acknowledged that English training is not a novelty , but rather a pending task that the sector has neglected by focusing on the urgent.

“There have always been courses, but we let our guard down a bit to keep the business moving forward,” he admitted.

For him, strengthening language proficiency is both a means of meeting an international requirement and protecting operators.

“They’re not coming as tourists; they’re driving a tractor-trailer, they’re providing a service,” he emphasized.

Therefore, your company has already begun resuming training, with the expectation that both authorities, Mexican and American, can coordinate a gradual transition.

Still, he knows there will be operators who decide not to continue: “Some will return to domestic routes, others will continue training to enter the United States properly,” Hinojosa said.

For now, the industry is clearly reorganizing. Some are correcting course, others are rethinking internal processes, but in all cases, the message is the same: speaking English is no longer an added value; it’s part of the minimum qualifications required to cross the line.

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El cargo The saga continues, now FMCSA suggests English interviews for operators apareció primero en T21.

Knowing how to say “hello” and “bye” is no longer enough to operate on U.S. roads; the issue remains, as U.S. authorities continue to pressure truck drivers to master English .

Following U.S. President Donald Trump ‘s executive order last April requiring all truck drivers to demonstrate proficiency in English to drive on U.S. roads, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy signed new enforcement guidelines on May 20.

As if it were a reality show where contestants must meet extreme requirements in record time, the United States will require all commercial trucking operators crossing the border to demonstrate a genuine command of English, or face being “out -of- service” starting June 25.

The new guidance requires heavy commercial vehicle drivers to be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with authorities, and understand regulatory documents in English, posing a direct challenge to Mexican operators who frequently cross the border.

In February 2025, cross-border trade between Mexico, the United States, and Canada reached $131.6 billion , a 2.1% increase year-over-year. Of this total, trucking moved $86.6 billion in merchandise , representing 3.9% annual growth, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) .

This growth demonstrates the importance of trucking in international trade, especially for Mexico, which plays a key role in cross-border trade.

The challenge begins! Are you ready?

But as in every reality show , there are good challenges and others not so good. Some industry players told T21 that this measure could be a challenge to promote training , to maintain competitiveness at an international level, but others also see it as an opportunity to reduce the shortage of operators in Mexico .

With such a crucial market at stake, any measure affecting trucking operators , such as requiring English proficiency in the United States, could impact Mexico’s competitiveness in cross-border trade and could also have significant repercussions on the daily operations that maintain the steady flow of goods.

This decision, which reverses the Obama administration ‘s 2016 policy that relaxed language requirements, underscores a core belief of the Trump administration: “English proficiency is essential for traffic safety,” according to the press release and the measure published by the United States.

For the United States, this represents a step toward reducing accidents caused by a lack of communication between drivers and authorities. But the question remains: How will this measure affect Mexican operators who depend on cross-border trade connections to operate in the United States?

With more than 99,000 operator vacancies in Mexico registered in 2024 , according to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , the new US measure could somewhat reverse the shortage of drivers in Mexico , since there are operators who, not mastering English before June 2025, will be left filling vacancies in Mexican territory.

The measure will primarily affect all commercial drivers operating in the United States, including those with foreign licenses or B-1 and H-2B visas . This new guidance will be implemented throughout the United States by federal and state inspectors, implying a widespread reach.

Likewise, Mexican companies must act quickly to ensure their operators comply with the new requirements. Verification of English proficiency and specialized training will be essential to avoid sanctions and ensure competitiveness in the cross-border market.

While this measure represents a challenge for the sector, it could also benefit it, as by excluding operators who don’t meet English requirements, it could open up new opportunities for Mexican drivers to fill those vacant positions, helping to reduce the operator shortage in Mexico.

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El cargo Out of service! EU will not accept operators who do not speak English. apareció primero en T21.

Following the terrorist attacks in the United States in September 2001, supply chain security became a priority for our northern neighbor and its main trading partners: Mexico and Canada.

In response to this fact, in November 2001 the US government promoted the creation of the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) . “This is a joint initiative between the government and private companies whose objective is to build a relationship of commercial cooperation that strengthens and improves the business value chain ; due to this initiative, Mexican companies must be certified and thus strengthen their security systems not only in their company but also throughout their supply chain,” explained the Mexican Institute of Transport (IMT) in its research Impacts and benefits of the CTPAT program, in the competitiveness of exporting companies .

In turn, the Customs and Border Protection Office (CBP) reported on its official website that to date there are more than 11,400 certified partners covering the entire spectrum of the commercial community. It detailed that these partners include American importers and exporters, road transporters between the United States and Canada, as well as road transporters between the United States and Mexico. Mexican and Canadian manufacturers are also considered; and Mexican long-distance transporters, which represent more than 52% of the cargo imported to the United States.

To continue the program and further strengthen the border, the official opening of the new CTPAT office at the World Trade Bridge (WTB) port of entry in Laredo, Texas, was announced.

National freight transport companies with operations on the border were invited to the inauguration. “This opening marks a significant moment for the logistics community and strengthens collaboration in our operations,” the Palos Garza company said in a statement.

The new office’s activities will include reviewing CTPAT program applications, as well as assessing eligibility requirements, certifying and validating new members , and ongoing account maintenance and revalidation of CTPAT members in accordance with the Safe Harbors Act of 2006.

“I am pleased to announce the official opening of this critical office. Laredo is the nation’s number one port of entry, and we need all available resources to ensure it is not only secure, but also able to process trade efficiently. I look forward to working with CBP to ensure this project is successful and that we continue to have the resources necessary to keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar.

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El cargo New CTPAT office opens in Laredo; aims to enhance security and streamline trade apareció primero en T21.