Overview
Laredo is the busiest land port of entry in the United States for trade with Mexico. A large share of the freight crossing the U.S.–Mexico border passes through the city by truck and rail.
History
Laredo was founded in 1755 under Spanish rule and later briefly served as the capital of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande. Its location on the main route between Mexico's industrial north and the United States made it a trade center. Interstate 35 and international rail bridges made it the leading commercial crossing as U.S.–Mexico trade grew under NAFTA and its successor, the USMCA.
Today
Customs brokers, freight forwarders, warehouses and trucking companies dominate Laredo's economy, with large logistics campuses along I-35 and the city's outer loop.
Compiled October 2026. History is summarized for general interest; check primary sources for research. This landmark is local context, not an employer or job listing.