First Commercial Freight Crosses the New Gordie Howe International Bridge

Commercial freight is moving across the new Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. Commercial Carrier Journal reported that Onfreight Logistics carried the first live cargo when the bridge opened to commercial traffic on July 27. Trucks from the family-owned carrier crossed separately from the Canadian and U.S. sides, marking the start of operations on a major new link in the North American freight network.

The crossing is designed to support one of the continent’s busiest trade corridors and give carriers another route for automotive, manufacturing and general freight. Onfreight had planned around the project for years, including a $10 million investment in an 11-acre cross-dock terminal in Florence, Kentucky. That expansion connects the company’s Canadian roots with a growing U.S. operation and illustrates how border infrastructure can influence terminal and lane decisions.

A new bridge does not remove normal cross-border obligations. Drivers must still carry the required immigration, customs, shipment and carrier documents, follow inspection directions and use the correct commercial approach lanes. Fleets should confirm routing, tolling, account setup and border procedures before dispatching a driver who has not used the crossing.

For CDL drivers, the opening may create additional cross-border opportunities and more route flexibility, but each carrier will decide how the bridge fits its network. Dispatchers should compare total transit time, customer location, customs processing and empty miles rather than choosing a crossing from distance alone. The first loads are an operational milestone; long-term benefits will depend on consistent traffic flow and carrier adoption.