In a little-noticed enforcement action issued December 19, the Federal Railroad Administration directed Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific Kansas City to restrict Mexican crews operating cross-border freight trains to a zone no more than 10 miles past U.S. ports of entry. FRA inspectors reported several instances where inbound engineers could not read English-language hazard bulletins or communicate emergency procedures—violating federal certification rules.
Under the order, uncertified foreign crews must park trains at the customs inspection point and transfer control to U.S.-licensed engineers. Interpreters used in crew hand-offs must themselves hold FRA safety certifications, a hurdle railroads say will be difficult to meet quickly during the busy holiday freight season.
The Teamsters-affiliated Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers praised the move as a “win for safety and American jobs,” while rail operators warned of possible congestion at border yards in Laredo, Eagle Pass and El Paso. Delays could ripple through automotive and retail supply chains that rely on just-in-time deliveries from Mexican plants.
![DOT limits Mexican train crews to 10-mile U.S. border zone over language-safety concerns]()
Global mobility planners should anticipate longer dwell times for rail-borne cargo and potential re-routing to truck or maritime modes. Companies with cross-border commuter programs for Mexican rail staff will need to verify certification status and may see visa sponsorship burdens increase if carriers hire more U.S.-based crews.
For organizations suddenly facing higher volumes of U.S. visa filings to support these staffing shifts, VisaHQ can simplify and accelerate the paperwork. The platform’s experts handle everything from identifying the right visa category to compiling FRA-compliant documentation, helping employers and individual engineers navigate processing backlogs with up-to-date guidance available at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/.
Although the mandate is framed as a safety measure, trade lawyers note it dovetails with the administration’s broader effort to tighten labor mobility across NAFTA corridors. Stakeholders expect Mexico to raise the issue in the USMCA Rail Consultative Committee, setting the stage for yet another transportation-mobility flashpoint in 2026.
Under the order, uncertified foreign crews must park trains at the customs inspection point and transfer control to U.S.-licensed engineers. Interpreters used in crew hand-offs must themselves hold FRA safety certifications, a hurdle railroads say will be difficult to meet quickly during the busy holiday freight season.
The Teamsters-affiliated Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers praised the move as a “win for safety and American jobs,” while rail operators warned of possible congestion at border yards in Laredo, Eagle Pass and El Paso. Delays could ripple through automotive and retail supply chains that rely on just-in-time deliveries from Mexican plants.
Global mobility planners should anticipate longer dwell times for rail-borne cargo and potential re-routing to truck or maritime modes. Companies with cross-border commuter programs for Mexican rail staff will need to verify certification status and may see visa sponsorship burdens increase if carriers hire more U.S.-based crews.
For organizations suddenly facing higher volumes of U.S. visa filings to support these staffing shifts, VisaHQ can simplify and accelerate the paperwork. The platform’s experts handle everything from identifying the right visa category to compiling FRA-compliant documentation, helping employers and individual engineers navigate processing backlogs with up-to-date guidance available at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/.
Although the mandate is framed as a safety measure, trade lawyers note it dovetails with the administration’s broader effort to tighten labor mobility across NAFTA corridors. Stakeholders expect Mexico to raise the issue in the USMCA Rail Consultative Committee, setting the stage for yet another transportation-mobility flashpoint in 2026.
