How container drayage works in El Paso and Santa Teresa
El Paso is a key inland hub for US–Mexico freight. Union Pacific's Santa Teresa terminal and BNSF's El Paso service bring containers in by rail, and trucks shuttle trailers between Juárez factories and US warehouses.
- Rail ramps
- UP Santa Teresa (NM) and BNSF El Paso
- Border crossings
- Bridge of the Americas, Ysleta–Zaragoza and Santa Teresa
- Cross-border
- Juárez maquiladoras to US warehouses
- Highway
- I-10
More about drayage in El Paso / Santa Teresa
Union Pacific built its Santa Teresa terminal in southern New Mexico, just west of El Paso, as a major intermodal and fueling facility on its Sunset Route between Los Angeles and Texas. Containers and trailers from Southern California, Texas and the Midwest arrive there, and local carriers deliver them to warehouses in Santa Teresa, El Paso and across the border.
BNSF also serves El Paso, connecting it with the West Coast and the Midwest. Together the railroads make El Paso a key inland hub for freight moving between Mexico and the US.
Cross-border drayage is a core business. Trucks move trailers and containers between factories in Juárez and US warehouses, crossing at the Bridge of the Americas, Ysleta–Zaragoza and Santa Teresa ports of entry.
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Rail ramps
Railroads
Union Pacific · BNSF · Ferromex (Mexico)
Main highways
I-10 · US-54 · Loop 375 · NM-136 (Pete Domenici Highway) · US-62/180
Container terminals and rail ramps in El Paso / Santa Teresa
Where containers are picked up and returned in the El Paso / Santa Teresa area.
Rail ramp
Santa Teresa Intermodal Terminal
Rail ramp · Union Pacific
Large Union Pacific intermodal and fueling facility in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, on the Sunset Route next to the border.
BNSF El Paso Intermodal
Rail ramp · BNSF
BNSF's intermodal service in El Paso, linking the border region with the West Coast and Midwest.
Maquiladoras and cross-border trade
Ciudad Juárez hosts hundreds of maquiladoras that assemble electronics, auto parts, medical devices and appliances for US markets. Components often arrive in containers through US ports and rail terminals and are trucked into Mexico, while finished goods come back north.
Cross-border carriers need customs bonds, FAST and C-TPAT credentials, and experience with Mexican and US regulations. Many use transfer or 'cross-border dray' trucks that shuttle trailers between the two countries. Border wait times vary, and carriers plan crossings around peak periods and holidays.
Distribution and the I-10 corridor
El Paso sits on Interstate 10, connecting it with Phoenix and Los Angeles to the west and San Antonio and Houston to the east. Warehouses cluster in East El Paso, near the airport, and in Santa Teresa's industrial parks next to the UP terminal and border crossing. Long distances define the region: San Antonio is about 550 miles away, Phoenix about 430 miles, and Albuquerque about 265 miles.
Many carriers combine local drayage with long-haul and cross-border services.
Desert conditions
El Paso's desert climate brings hot summers, dust storms and occasional winter snow. Summer heat can affect cargo and equipment, and some goods need reefers. Wind and dust can reduce visibility on I-10, and carriers adjust schedules when storms hit. Rainfall is rare, but flash floods can close roads during summer monsoon storms.
Santa Teresa's border industrial growth
Santa Teresa, New Mexico, just west of El Paso, has grown into an important border industrial area. The Santa Teresa port of entry, Union Pacific's intermodal terminal and new industrial parks have attracted manufacturers and logistics companies serving cross-border supply chains.
Companies can locate near the border crossing and rail terminal, moving goods between Mexican factories and US markets with minimal drayage. Some operate in foreign trade zones that offer customs benefits.
New Mexico has promoted the area as an alternative to the more congested El Paso crossings, and continued investment is expected as nearshoring brings more manufacturing to northern Mexico.
Common lanes out of El Paso / Santa Teresa
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Ciudad Juárez
Cross-border drayage via Bridge of the Americas, Ysleta or Santa Teresa.
10 mi
Las Cruces, NM
Southern New Mexico via I-10.
45 mi
Albuquerque
New Mexico via I-25.
265 mi
Phoenix
Arizona via I-10 West.
430 mi
San Antonio
South Texas via I-10 East.
550 mi
Booking drayage in El Paso / Santa Teresa: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in El Paso / Santa Teresa. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Use cross-border specialists
Moves into Mexico need customs bonds and border credentials. Confirm your carrier's capabilities.
Confirm Santa Teresa or El Paso
UP Santa Teresa and BNSF El Paso are different facilities. Check your rail notice.
Plan border crossings
Wait times vary by time of day and bridge. Ask carriers about the best crossing for your freight.
Protect cargo from heat
Summer heat can damage goods. Use reefers where needed.
Drayage markets near El Paso / Santa Teresa
Many carriers that serve El Paso / Santa Teresa also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in El Paso / Santa Teresa, TX.