'Severe' El Paso Congestion Resulting in Diversions, Delays at Other Ports

Severe congestion at the El Paso, Texas, Port of Entry is pushing some traffic to other ports and creating additional delays, C.H. Robinson said an April 8 update. The ports of both Nogales in Arizona and Laredo in Texas are seeing traffic that was diverted from El Paso, the company said. Transportation rates are also growing due to limited truckload availability and increased driver wait times, it said. "Overall, we are seeing a trend of fewer inspections lanes being staffed at the same time volumes appear to be increasing as shippers fear a potential border closure for freight," the company said.

The company said Laredo, about a 12-hour drive from El Paso, is seeing freight diverted there. "Carrier capacity has been severely impacted as wait times continue to average 4-6 hours," it said. CBP is trying to encourage early morning crossings and "Mexican customs at Nuevo Laredo announced earlier opening times to try and help improve the freight situation," C.H. Robinson said.

Nogales, about a five-hour drive from El Paso, is receiving El Paso overflow too. Further complicating the issue on April 8 was that "this is the first Monday after seasonal Sunday hours were stopped for produce," the company said. CBP "advised that no overtime has been authorized for the Mariposa Bridge and warned that Nogales is designated as a port to draw additional officers should they be needed for processing people in other ports." Also "CBP and Mexican customs are working to potentially use Douglas and San Luis, AZ crossings for freight, but need to add freight specific officers to those locations."

The delays could continue to grow this week due to "higher volumes as manufacturing facilities work to push out volumes before many Mexican school breaks and Holy Week," it said. Already, "northbound capacity at all locations is difficult to find due to a combination of trailers unable to cross and unload and increased volumes," it said. The company advised that "if freight is diverted to ports not normally used, please ensure that customs clearance, especially on the Mexican side, is adjusted accordingly with sufficient lead time. We are seeing attempts to divert from El Paso resulting in unexpected delays due to a lack of update to the port of crossing."

The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America sent out some answers on April 5 provided by CBP on port delays. Asked about the effects of Partner Government Agency clearance, CBP said it will depend on PGA availability. "When CBP clears the cargo, we depend on PGA guidance, both onsite and in the electronic systems, for admissibility determinations," it said. "If those are provided at the time of CBP release, the cargo clearance should not be additionally impacted." CBP also said in order for carriers to remain compliant with hours of service regulations it believes drivers may be changed or "additional parties added at the primary processing booth (or amended by the carrier) even after the 1-hour window for advance manifesting."

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump mentioned the situation at the ports in a series of tweets blaming Mexico for immigration issues. "Until Mexico cleans up this ridiculous & massive migration, we will be focusing on Border Security, not Ports of Entry," Trump said. Once Mexico addresses the migration issue and Congress changes the immigration laws, "all will be smooth," he said in a tweet.