The Otay Mesa Port of Entry links San Diego to Tijuana, Mexico, where 1.4 million trucks cross the border annually. Granted exclusive access for Transport Topics, photojournalist John Sommers II documented how trucks move freight between the nations.
View of trucks on the Mexican side of the border before crossing over to the United States side for inspection, with the San Ysidro Mountains in the background.
Trucks enter gates on the Mexican side of the border prior to being released for entry into the United States.
Trucks await dispatch before crossing into the United States, where they are inspected by Customs at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
A red signpost marks the official border passageway for trucks leaving Mexico for U.S. inspection stations at Otay Mesa.
An older Ford tractor goes through a radiation checkpoint as it heads from Mexico to U.S. border inspection stations.
An inspector reviews logs from a trucker entering the United States. All drivers have paperwork inspected to verify their business.
Trucks crossing over from Mexico to the United States go through U.S. inspection stations where they are interviewed by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents.
After passing through the main checkpoint, some trucks have to pass through X-ray towers for a closer look at their goods.
All freight entering the U.S. is subject to inspection at this facility, including box trucks and vans.
Flowers are unloaded so officers can search the samples by hand to make sure they are safe to enter the United States.
Many times an entire shipment will be unloaded so officers can get a closer look at cargo and trailer.
All trucks can potentially have shipments offloaded for closer inspection by officers and detector dogs.
Produce, such as this asparagus shipment, is inspected by agents looking for hidden threats or insects that could harm U.S. agriculture.
Border agents suspicious of hidden contraband sometimes order trucks to be taken apart at this U.S. Customs inspection dock.
Trucks pass several inspection stations as they move through the border facility. The San Ysidro Mountains are in the background.
This is the final inspection station for drivers before their trucks are cleared to depart the border facility.
After federal clearance, truckers must head for another inspection at the California Highway Patrol's inspection facility.
All Class 8 vehicles entering the U.S. are subject to inspections with or without a trailer.
truck on the Via De La Amistad overpass as it heads into the California Highway Patrol's inspection facility for final clearance.
The Otay Mesa Port of Entry links San Diego to Tijuana, Mexico, where 1.4 million trucks cross the border annually. Granted exclusive access for Transport Topics, photojournalist John Sommers II documented how trucks move freight between the nations.
View of trucks on the Mexican side of the border before crossing over to the United States side for inspection, with the San Ysidro Mountains in the background.
Trucks enter gates on the Mexican side of the border prior to being released for entry into the United States.
Trucks await dispatch before crossing into the United States, where they are inspected by Customs at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
A red signpost marks the official border passageway for trucks leaving Mexico for U.S. inspection stations at Otay Mesa.
An older Ford tractor goes through a radiation checkpoint as it heads from Mexico to U.S. border inspection stations.
An inspector reviews logs from a trucker entering the United States. All drivers have paperwork inspected to verify their business.
Trucks crossing over from Mexico to the United States go through U.S. inspection stations where they are interviewed by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents.
After passing through the main checkpoint, some trucks have to pass through X-ray towers for a closer look at their goods.
All freight entering the U.S. is subject to inspection at this facility, including box trucks and vans.
Flowers are unloaded so officers can search the samples by hand to make sure they are safe to enter the United States.
Many times an entire shipment will be unloaded so officers can get a closer look at cargo and trailer.
All trucks can potentially have shipments offloaded for closer inspection by officers and detector dogs.
Produce, such as this asparagus shipment, is inspected by agents looking for hidden threats or insects that could harm U.S. agriculture.
Border agents suspicious of hidden contraband sometimes order trucks to be taken apart at this U.S. Customs inspection dock.
Trucks pass several inspection stations as they move through the border facility. The San Ysidro Mountains are in the background.
This is the final inspection station for drivers before their trucks are cleared to depart the border facility.
After federal clearance, truckers must head for another inspection at the California Highway Patrol's inspection facility.
All Class 8 vehicles entering the U.S. are subject to inspections with or without a trailer.
truck on the Via De La Amistad overpass as it heads into the California Highway Patrol's inspection facility for final clearance.
