What the average freight rate finder is
Free OCL Cargo tool to estimate Mexico–U.S. road freight market price in seconds: origin, destination, equipment, dry van or reefer, weight, and date. You see Low, Mid, and High (±8% around the average). Read results in MXN or USD; the FX reference is the prior calendar month average. Use it to compare before you request quotes. Not a binding carrier quote or an official rate board.
Covers ports (Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, Veracruz, Altamira, and more), domestic hubs (Mexico City, Monterrey, Bajío), border gateways (Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Otay, Juárez, Nogales), and frequent U.S. legs (Houston, Long Beach).
How the estimate is built
We use commercial highway distance and a mid price per km by equipment. We adjust for reefer, season, and border or port lanes. The figure is a soft all-in land-haul reference: itemized tolls, USD crossing, and port yard fees are not broken out.
What Low, Mid, and High mean
Three readings of the same corridor. Use them to see if a quote is cheap, in-market, or expensive.
| Band | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Low | Near the lower quartile (~average minus 8%). |
| Mid | Market average for the corridor and equipment. |
| High | Near the upper quartile (~average plus 8%). |
MXN or USD and exchange rate
The engine prices in pesos. The MXN|USD toggle shows the same estimate in dollars. The FX reference is the prior calendar month average (Frankfurter/ECB via the tool API). The year series in USD converts each month with that month’s FX. Useful for USD reporting; the border crossing in dollars is still quoted separately.
Corridors: ports, Mexico, border, and U.S.
Origins and destinations are grouped into Mexican ports, MX domestic, border, and U.S. nodes. Quick buttons prioritize the five highest-volume corridors. On border lanes the estimate is the land haul; USD transfer or crossing is not included.
2026 corridor examples
Orientative references for 53 ft dry van. Use the finder for your equipment, weight, and date.
| Corridor | Km | Approx. range (MXN) |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo | ~1,115 | $64,300 to $75,500 |
| Monterrey to Nuevo Laredo | ~240 | $12,800 to $15,100 |
| Manzanillo to Mexico City | ~805 | $46,000 to $54,000 |
| Mexico City to Monterrey | ~905 | $49,200 to $57,800 |
| Bajío (Qro) to Nuevo Laredo | ~900 | $51,900 to $61,000 |
| Lázaro Cárdenas to Mexico City | ~600 | $34,300 to $40,200 |
| Mexico City to Guadalajara | ~570 | $27,600 to $32,400 |
| Veracruz to Mexico City | ~420 | $21,300 to $25,100 |
| Altamira to Monterrey | ~520 | $26,400 to $31,000 |
| Monterrey to Saltillo | ~85 | $12,100 to $14,200 |
Freight seasonality
The estimate adjusts for ship date. In peak season (year-end, retail spikes, harvests, or border bottlenecks) Mid and High often rise. The year chart shows the band month by month for the same origin and destination.
When to trust the estimate vs request a quote
The estimate orients. The carrier quote closes the price. Use this table to choose the next step.
| Situation | Trust |
|---|---|
| Market benchmark or budget | High for order of magnitude |
| Spot or contract to sign | Medium: reference, not binding |
| USD crossing, port yard, detention | Low (not included) |
| Paying above Mid repeatedly | Leakage signal |
Most-used equipment
About 80% of Mexico road freight.
- 1.5 / 3.5-ton van. Last mile.
- Rabón and torton. Regional.
- 48 and 53 ft trailers. Trunk and export.
- Full. High volume where allowed.
Dry van or reefer
Dry van is the estimate base. Reefer is usually about 22% higher for equipment and cold chain.
How to use it
Four steps to a shareable estimate.
- Origin and destination
List or quick button (ports, border, U.S.).
- Equipment and service
Pick the unit and dry van or reefer.
- Weight, date, and currency
Minimum weight, ship date, and MXN or USD.
- Read the range and book
Low, Mid, High. If you pay above Mid, book a diagnostic.
Related guides and tools
Go deeper by corridor or move to audit and SAT codes.
- Mexico City–Nuevo Laredo rate 2026
- Monterrey–Nuevo Laredo rate 2026
- Manzanillo–Mexico City rate 2026
- Bajío–Nuevo Laredo rate 2026
- Mexico City–Monterrey rate 2026
- Mexico City–Guadalajara rate 2026
- Lázaro Cárdenas–Mexico City rate 2026
- Veracruz–Mexico City rate 2026
- Altamira–Monterrey rate 2026
- Monterrey–Saltillo rate 2026
- Trailer cost per kilometer
- Truck and trailer unit types
- What a rate card is
- Loss calculator
- SAT code finder
- OCL Cargo pricing
What is not included
Does not replace a carrier quote. Does not itemize tolls, USD crossing, port yard, gate fees, or detention. Not an official Canacar index or a SAT rate board.
In the diagnostic we review real invoices. OCL audits rate, CFDI, Carta Porte, GPS, and POD before payment. Finance and operations see the same file. Book a diagnostic.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a freight quote?+
No. It is a market estimate (Low, Mid, High) for comparison. Always request a formal carrier quote with validity and accessorials.
How much is Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo?+
2026 annual average, 53 ft dry van: about $69,900 MXN (band $64,300 to $75,500) over ~1,115 km. Use the finder for your unit, weight, and date.
What is the freight price per km in Mexico?+
It depends on equipment and corridor. The finder shows MXN per km next to the total range. Short hauls often price on a trip floor, not km alone.
Can I see the estimate in USD?+
Yes. The MXN|USD toggle converts the same estimate. The FX reference is the prior month average; the year chart uses FX per month.
Where does the exchange rate come from?+
From the tool API (/api/fx-usdmxn): daily average of the prior calendar month (Frankfurter/ECB). It does not replace your contractual FX.
Does it include the U.S. crossing?+
MXN land haul (or its USD equivalent) yes. The USD crossing or transfer is separate.
Do rates change by season?+
Yes. Ship date adjusts the estimate, and the year chart shows the band month by month for the same origin–destination pair.
Which routes are covered?+
Mexico ports, domestic routes, MX–U.S. border, and frequent U.S. legs (Houston, Long Beach, and others).
What if I pay above the mid?+
Book a free diagnostic: we review invoices and freight leakage (accessorials, detention, deductions) before payment.