In a recent webinar with FreightWaves, host Britni Chisenall and analyst Thomas Wasson spoke with Lance Dixon, Senior Vice President of Mexico, Canada and Temperature-Controlled Operations at Werner, about nearshoring logistical realities. Their conversation explores how successful companies are taking a more integrated approach to securing capacity and mitigating cross-border risks.
Top Five Takeaways from the Discussion
- Northbound capacity requires proactive mitigation. The manufacturing boom has worsened the northbound truckload capacity imbalance, requiring shippers to leverage multimodal options like expanded intermodal services, Laredo cross-docking and dedicated fleets.
- Regulatory compliance builds a critical firewall. Tighter enforcement around commercial driver’s licenses, English proficiency and cabotage laws means shippers must rely on strict carrier vetting and CTPAT validation to prevent supply chain disruptions.
- Proactive digital documentation eliminates border delays. Converting shipping documents into PDFs via the Drive Werner Pro Mobile App up to two days before physical cargo arrives allows customs brokers to secure preclearance and avoid fines.
- Nearshoring delivers a speed-to-market advantage. Sourcing from Mexico cuts transit times to seven to ten days compared to 45 to 50 days from China. This offers the added benefits of shared time zones and easier corporate site visits.
- Smart modal shifting drives corporate sustainability goals. Shifting long-haul highway routes to rail via intermodal containers reduces Scope 3 emissions.
During the session, Dixon emphasized how Werner’s expertise protects a shipper’s bottom line.
“We started doing this cross-border thing in 1999, so we’re approaching 27 years of being able to do this. This team’s got a ton of experience and we’ve learned a lot over those 27 years. We’re no longer practicing this stuff. We’re professionals and we’re able to anticipate most issues before they ever become a problem.”
Watch the full webinar recording to optimize your nearshoring strategy and turn logistics into a competitive advantage.
Learn more about Werner’s Mexico solutions here.
