Companies shipping between the United States, Canada, and Mexico are encouraged to review shipment schedules early, confirm carrier commitments before freight is ready to move, and build flexibility into pickup schedules as limited truck capacity continues to make cross-border freight planning more difficult.
That’s because cross-border freight environments are experiencing higher levels of tightness than what is typically seen, according to TRAFFIX’s July 2026 NAX Index.
"Capacity is the biggest factor affecting cross-border freight right now, so shippers need to plan further ahead than usual," says Alex Fuller, VP, commercial intelligence at TRAFFIX. "We're advising our customers to confirm carrier commitments early, particularly on Canada lanes, and to build flexibility into their pickup schedules wherever possible."
Key takeaways:
· While overall cross-border conditions are currently stable, the ongoing limitation in truck availability necessitates careful planning.
· The Canada NAX reading rose to 54 and the Mexico NAX held at 51 in July, with both figures remaining above the Index's 50-point threshold that signals higher difficulty in moving freight.
· Capacity remains the primary driver of current cross-border market conditions, with the capacity component of the Index climbing to 67 as truck availability continues to be limited, according to the report.
· Costs remain elevated at 49, though lower fuel prices have provided some relief and helped costs level off.
· Demand held steady at 47, reflecting consistent freight volumes without signs of significant growth or decline.
· Policy pressure increased from the prior month to 41, though it remains below levels seen earlier in the year.
· Canada continues to experience more difficult cross-border conditions than Mexico, particularly when arranging truck capacity, although the gap between the two has narrowed slightly in recent months.
· Trade and tariff activity ticked up slightly in July, and while the report found little immediate impact on day-to-day operations, continued changes could influence longer-term cross-border planning.
· The report also points to ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which may carry long-term implications even though no major immediate impacts are yet visible.
