Ship from Mexico.
Deliver to the U.S.
Cut costs by 30%.
Lateral fulfills your U.S. ecommerce orders from our Tijuana facility — with agencia aduanal in-house, IMMEX infrastructure, and 1–3 day delivery to any U.S. destination.
DELIVERY
SAVINGS
CUSTOMS
CERTIFIED
What Is Cross-Border Fulfillment?
Cross-border fulfillment is the process of storing inventory in a facility in Mexico and fulfilling orders directly to U.S. end customers. The goods cross the border on every shipment, managed by a licensed customs broker — in Lateral's case, our own in-house team.
The cost advantage is structural: lower labor rates, lower warehouse costs, and duty deferral through IMMEX — all while maintaining the same 1–3 day delivery your U.S. customers expect. No trade policy determines this. It's operational math.
Who This Model Is Built For
Lateral's cross-border fulfillment is built around U.S. last-mile delivery — whether your customers are based in the U.S., or your brand operates in both markets. Our infrastructure covers carrier network, customs processes, and warehouse operations oriented toward U.S. delivery speed and standards.
The real advantage is the
cost structure. Not a trade policy.
The border gives Lateral a permanent structural cost advantage that U.S.-based 3PLs can't replicate — regardless of which tariff rules are in effect.
30% Lower Operating Costs
Labor and warehouse costs in Tijuana are significantly lower than in California, Texas, or New Jersey. That margin goes directly to your bottom line — not to your 3PL's overhead.
UP TO 30% SAVINGS · YEAR 11–3 Day U.S. Delivery
Tijuana's proximity to the U.S. border means your orders reach Southern California same day or next day, and anywhere in the U.S. within 1–3 business days. No speed compromise.
SAME-DAY SOCAL · 3-DAY NATIONALIMMEX & Cash Flow Advantage
Our IMMEX-certified bonded warehouse lets you import inventory duty-free and defer taxes until goods are sold and exported. Working capital stays in your business, not with the government.
DUTY DEFERRAL · BONDED CERTIFIEDThe border is invisible
to your customer.
Four steps from your supplier to your U.S. customer's door — all managed under one roof in Tijuana.
Inventory Received
Your goods arrive at our Tijuana facility. We inspect, log, and store them in our IMMEX-certified bonded warehouse. Customs cleared in-transit — not at the dock.
Preparación de pedidos y envío
When a U.S. customer places an order, our team picks, packs, and prepares it same day for orders placed before cutoff. Real-time WMS visibility included.
Border Crossed
Our in-house customs broker handles all documentation and clearance. No third-party delays, no surprise fees. Average dwell time at Otay Mesa: under 90 minutes.
U.S. Last-Mile Delivery
The shipment enters the U.S. carrier network from our San Diego injection point. Your customer receives a U.S. domestic tracking label — not a cross-border shipment.
Cross-Border Fulfillment
vs. U.S. Fulfillment
A real comparison for DTC and Shopify brands. Based on Q1 2026 market benchmarks (CBRE, JLL Industrial Reports).
| Factor | U.S.-Based 3PL CA / TX / NJ | Lateral Fulfillment Tijuana, MX | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse cost (sqft/mo) | $1.20 – $1.85 | $0.45 – $0.65 | ~60% |
| Fully-loaded labor (per hr) | $22 – $28 | $5 – $7 | ~70% |
| Pick & pack (per order) | $3.50 – $5.20 | $1.80 – $2.90 | ~40% |
| Storage (per pallet/mo) | $22 – $35 | $12 – $18 | ~45% |
| In-house customs brokerage | ✗ Third-party, extra cost | ✓ Included in-house | No fee |
| IMMEX / duty deferral | ✗ Not available | ✓ IMMEX certified | Cash flow |
| 1–3 day U.S. delivery | ✓ Varies by location | ✓ All U.S. zones | Same SLA |
| Shopify integration | ✓ Varies by provider | ✓ Native integration | — |
| Contract flexibility | 12–24 mo lock-in | Month-to-month available | No lock-in |
Average total cost reduction for brands switching to Lateral
Combined savings from lower warehouse rates, labor costs, duty deferral, and in-house customs — versus equivalent U.S. 3PL operations in California. Quantified in your free cost audit.
In-house customs brokerage.
No third parties. No delays.
One team. One facility. Zero third-party brokers.
Most 3PLs near the border outsource customs clearance. That means an extra vendor, extra cost, and an extra point of failure on every shipment — delays that compound into missed SLAs.
At Lateral, customs brokerage is handled internally. Same team, same facility, full accountability.
Common questions about cross-border duties
Brands new to nearshore fulfillment often have concerns about customs complexity. Here's what actually happens in practice:
- Your inventory enters Mexico under IMMEX — a bonded program that suspends duties while goods are in our facility
- When an order ships to a U.S. customer, it exports under CBP documentation our team files on every single shipment
- You don't need to hire a customs broker separately — we are your customs broker
- There are no double duties — the IMMEX program is specifically designed to avoid taxing goods twice
- Our team handles HS code classification, valuation, and entry filing on every order
- Your customer sees a U.S. domestic tracking label — not a cross-border shipment notice
U.S. customers reached
within 1–3 business days.
Daily linehaul into San Diego injection points. UPS, FedEx, USPS, and regional carriers handle final mile. Your customer sees a U.S. domestic tracking label.
Questions every brand asks
before going cross-border.
Cross-border fulfillment means storing your inventory in a facility in Mexico and fulfilling orders directly to U.S. customers. Every shipment crosses the border managed by a licensed customs broker — in Lateral's case, our own in-house team. Your customer receives a U.S. domestic tracking label and 1–3 day delivery.
From our Tijuana facility, orders reach U.S. customers in 1–3 business days. Southern California customers often receive same-day or next-day delivery. The speed is comparable to a U.S.-based 3PL on the West Coast — with significantly lower costs.
For most U.S. DTC brands, yes — by 20–30% on average. The savings come from lower warehouse rates, more affordable labor, and duty deferral through IMMEX. Brands previously using 3PLs in California or Texas typically see the largest cost reduction.
Yes — every cross-border shipment requires customs documentation. At Lateral, this is handled entirely in-house by our licensed customs brokerage team. You don't need to hire or manage a separate broker. We handle entry filing, documentation, and CBP compliance on every order.
No. Final mile is handled by U.S. carriers (UPS, FedEx, USPS, regional) from our San Diego injection point. The tracking label is U.S. domestic. Your customer experience is identical to a California-based 3PL.
Yes. Lateral integrates natively with Shopify and major ecommerce platforms including Amazon, NetSuite, and SPS Commerce. Orders flow automatically into our WMS for picking, packing, and fulfillment. Setup is handled by our team during onboarding.
Every month you stay on California rates,
you're funding your competitors' growth.
Get a free cost analysis comparing your current fulfillment spend against what Lateral would cost for your specific volume and product mix. Delivered within 48 hours.
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