San Antonio, Texas, a city known for both its rich history and vibrant cultural scene, is rapidly emerging as a key player in global logistics. While tourists flock to iconic landmarks like the Alamo and the scenic River Walk, business leaders are increasingly recognizing San Antonio’s strategic importance as a crucial hub for cross-border shipping.
And Averitt is dramatically expanding our capabilities to meet the growing demand of nearshoring.
A Strategic Gateway for International Trade
Founded in 1718 as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost, San Antonio has long been a melting pot of cultures and a center of commerce. Its geographic location – about 160 miles from the Mexican border and centrally positioned within Texas – makes it an ideal hub for North American freight transportation. And this strategic positioning has become even more valuable in recent years as businesses increasingly turn to nearshoring and reshoring strategies.
Nearshoring, the practice of relocating production facilities closer to the United States, has gained significant traction in recent years due to a number of factors – including rising labor costs in Asia, concerns about supply chain disruptions, security and stability, and a desire for faster time-to-market. As this trend accelerates, San Antonio’s importance in the global supply chain has grown significantly.
The city’s well-developed infrastructure plays an important role – major highways, including Interstates 10, 35, and 37, converge in San Antonio, creating a robust road network that allows for efficient freight transportation across the region and beyond. The city also boasts an extensive railroad system, with several major rail lines intersecting there, making it an ideal epicenter for intermodal rail services.
San Antonio’s logistics capabilities are further complemented by its skilled workforce, competitive operating costs, and business-friendly environment. The city has invested in education and training programs to ensure a steady supply of qualified workers for the logistics sector. Local economic development initiatives have also focused on attracting and retaining businesses in key industries, further enhancing San Antonio’s appeal as a logistics hub.
Averitt’s Expanded Presence – Meeting the Demands of a Growing Market
At Averitt, we’ve always recognized San Antonio’s immense potential as a key logistics hub. In response to the city’s growing role in cross-border trade and North American supply chains, we completed a major expansion at our San Antonio facility, as announced in November 2024, to better serve our customers.
This expansion isn’t just about increasing our footprint; it’s about providing enhanced capabilities to better serve our customers in this dynamic market. With 80 dock doors (up from 38) and a new 85,000-square-foot Distribution and Fulfillment center, our facility now offers significantly greater capacity for handling high volumes of goods. Combined with our existing cross-border expertise, this positions Averitt as a leader in supporting the diverse and growing needs of U.S.-Mexico freight transportation.
Our expanded services are designed to cater to industries beyond automotive manufacturing, which has long been a cornerstone of cross-border freight. We’re also equipped to support the growing logistics needs of aerospace, machinery and equipment production, automotive manufacturing, medical equipment manufacturing, retail, and electronics. This diversification reflects broader trends in North American trade and underscores San Antonio’s role as a vital logistics hub.
With this expansion, Averitt is ready to provide tailored solutions across these industries, from warehousing and inventory management to seamless cross-border transportation. We’re excited to help our customers navigate the complexities of today’s supply chain with the flexibility, speed, and reliability they need to succeed.
Watch the short video below to learn about our Mexico cross-border services!
The Rail Advantage – Enhancing Connectivity
While our expanded distribution and fulfillment center will significantly boost our road freight capabilities, we’re also leveraging San Antonio’s status as a major rail hub to offer comprehensive logistics solutions. The city serves as a crucial junction for multiple major rail lines, including Union Pacific and BNSF Railway, providing seamless connectivity for freight movement across North America. Our facility’s proximity to these rail lines allows us to efficiently transfer goods between road and rail transport, optimizing shipping routes and methods based on each customer's specific needs.
This intermodal approach ensures that goods can be moved swiftly and cost-effectively, supporting the growing demands of nearshoring and cross-border trade. For instance, we can leverage rail transport for long-haul shipments from manufacturing centers in Mexico to our San Antonio facility, then use our trucking network for less-than-truckload and full truckload distribution across the U.S. and Canada.
Looking to the Future – San Antonio’s Strategic Importance
As global supply chains evolve and nearshoring trends accelerate, San Antonio is poised to play an increasingly vital role in foreign trade and international logistics. The city’s strategic location and robust infrastructure position it as a vital hub for businesses looking to optimize their logistics operations.
Averitt’s expanded capabilities and strategic use of San Antonio’s rail infrastructure allows us to offer flexible, efficient, and cost-effective logistics solutions. Our deep understanding of the U.S.-Mexico trade corridor, coupled with our enhanced San Antonio facility, enables us to offer innovative solutions to complex logistics challenges.
Whether you’re exploring nearshoring opportunities or aiming to streamline existing cross-border operations, we’re ready to be your trusted partner in the dynamic world of international logistics. Reach out today to learn how we can help you unlock new opportunities in cross-border logistics and turn challenges into competitive advantages.
