Border Crossing Forecasting Model Needed to Keep Just-In-Time Inventory Viable

What's the Problem?

Cross-border shipping has increased in recent years because of: the increase of near-sourcing, the expansion of the Panama Canal and the recent investment in Mexico’s seaport and railroad infrastructure. Although this increase is good for the local economies in areas such as El Paso-Juarez, additional border traffic may delay just-in-time (JIT) shipping plans and cause increased production costs. What’s needed is an acceptable forecasting model to help communities or businesses on the U.S.-Mexico border better predict border crossing and wait times.

What's the Solution?

In partnership with the Coalicion Empressarial Pro Libre Commercio, the Texas A&M Transportation Research Institute’s Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research (CIITR) is researching the way congestion impacts JIT inventory systems of companies on both sides of the border and the inefficiencies associated with crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. At project completion, CIITR will have a reliable forecasting model that will help border communities—and the businesses that pass their goods through them—to make informed production and transportation decisions.

Research Benefits

Once the model is created, businesses will be able to improve shipping inefficiencies by better calculating the time their trucks may wait at the border. The model will encourage businesses to make decisions that not only meet a business’s profit and demand needs, but also help curb downtime associated with long border wait times. These enhancements could potentially improve economic development, save businesses time and money, increase overall border security and result in savings passed along to consumers via store shelves.