There are are some similarities between the two industries. No one is leased on to another company. You have to go out and knock on doors and call your contacts to get loads. No load boards or anything like that. Most loads are picked up at the Mexican Customs Broker on the U.S. side of the border and then cross the border. Crossing the border can be a pain. Mexican customs have a random system of checking trucks coming into Mexico, you either get the green light or red, all random. If you get the red you might be there as long as 8 hrs for them to check the documentation on your load. It doesn't end there, once you leave there in another check approx. 15 miles into Mexico where it sometimes takes as long as 3 hours to get through at peak times.
I would say the rates are about the same as in the U.S. For a "B" unit, the rates are equivalent of anywhere from 1 to 3 dollars per mile. Loads back to the Laredo are are difficult to find so most of the time you must come back empty. Our labor might be cheaper that in the U.S however some things are more expensive for us. Gas is the same price as the U.S. on the border but once you get into the interior it goes up about 30-40%. Financing for equipment is a times difficult to obtain and rates can be as high as 20%
Most of the freight goes to Mexico D.F. (11 hrs), Guadalajara (14 hrs), Monterrery (3 hrs) or places in between these locations. Teams are not very common unless travelling further than these locations listed.
Yes there is very much pressure for timely delivery. At times it can be very difficult because of the delays at the border. Also the equivalent of the Interstate system is all toll roads which are very expensive. From Laredo to Guadalajara is about 100 dollars in tolls one way. Shippers hardly ever want the extra expense of tolls so most of the time the loads go on the slow roads.
Regards
) grumble about the DC beltway again!