October 2026 · News · By Alejandro J. Corona Villarreal
CBP Issues TIN 70129380: Cabotage Clarifications
On October 5, 2026, CBP’s San Diego Field Office issued TIN 70129380 with cabotage clarifications. This is exactly what we called for in our September newsletter: that the criteria discussed at the CBP/ANAM bilateral meeting be formalized in writing.
What CBP Clarified
- For there to be a cabotage violation, there must be a point-to-point domestic movement within the United States.
- There is no 24-hour time limit on a B1 driver’s presence in the United States. The driver is allowed reasonable time to make a delivery, pick up an export and return to Mexico.
- There are no mileage restrictions. The belief that drivers may only stay within 100 miles of the border is false: a B1 driver is allowed the mileage needed to deliver, pick up an export and return to Mexico.
- A B1 driver may deliver a shipment from Mexico to multiple addresses within the United States.
- A B1 driver is allowed a reasonable deviation from their route to obtain documentation, which is considered a necessary incident of international commerce.
- A B1 driver may “spot” or “shunt” an empty trailer (other than the one they came in with) within a yard or lot if it is a necessary incident to their international commerce, such as moving an empty trailer out of the way to complete a delivery at the warehouse door or dock.
- A port of entry closure or delays due to a system interruption are not considered part of clearance by a government agency. In those cases, if the driver parks the tractor in the United States and goes to Mexico for the night, the shipment will be considered to have come to rest, and the driver will be in violation of cabotage upon entering the United States to retrieve it.
What Changed Since the Bilateral Meeting?
The TIN confirms in writing several criteria discussed at the meeting: there is no mileage limit, deliveries to multiple addresses (milk runs) and documentation stops are allowed, and system outages or port closures do not justify leaving a shipment parked in the U.S. It also adds two clarifications:
- No 24-hour limit: what counts is reasonable time to complete the delivery and pickup.
- Moving empty trailers within a yard is allowed when needed to complete an international delivery.
Recommendations
- Print the TIN and give it to your drivers to carry on every trip, along with the shipment paperwork.
- Update your transportation procedures and driver training with these criteria.
- If the port closes or systems fail, the driver must wait with the unit in the U.S. (in the truck or at a hotel) or use an alternate port; never leave the unit and cross into Mexico.
Official Document
- TIN 70129380 – Cabotage Clarifications (PDF)
- TIN 70129380 – Spanish translation (unofficial, PDF)
- Source: CBP bulletin
Questions about how to apply these criteria to your operation? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp at 686 543 1017.
This post is an informational summary of CBP TIN 70129380. It does not constitute legal advice and does not replace the official document. Interpretations may vary; we recommend reviewing current regulations and consulting your legal advisor as needed.