San Diego Border Crossings: Decision Aims to Prevent Longer Wait Times

A recent decision in San Diego County has brought attention to an important issue for the border community and the transportation industry: the connection between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer training and the efficient operation of ports of entry.

On August 18, 2026, San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced changes regarding the use of Sheriff’s training facilities by federal agencies.

As part of this decision, CBP will continue to have access to the Otay Range for training and firearms qualifications, after considering the potential impact that eliminating such access could have on border operations.

What Does CBP Training Have to Do With Border Wait Times?

CBP officers are required to meet training standards that include classroom instruction and firearms qualifications.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, it is important for officers to complete these requirements efficiently so they can return to their duties at land ports of entry, the airport, and the seaport.

The Sheriff’s Office states that without this ability, lanes could close and border wait times could increase, potentially impacting regional commerce and the workforce.

Currently, CBP does not have another comparable option for a training facility in the area, and alternative facilities are very limited.

More Than 5,500 Commercial Trucks Enter Daily

The importance of maintaining efficient border operations becomes clear when considering the volume processed throughout our region each day.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, more than the following enter the United States through San Diego ports of entry every day:

• More than 225,000 people

• More than 90,000 vehicles

• Approximately 50,000 pedestrians

• More than 5,500 commercial trucks

The announcement also states that current border wait times generally range from approximately 1 to 3 hours.

For the transportation industry, where thousands of commercial trucks rely on these crossings every day, maintaining the operational capacity of ports of entry is essential to the movement of goods and trade between the United States and Mexico.

Otay Mesa, San Ysidro, Tecate, and Calexico

The potential impact is not limited to a single port of entry.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, a disruption in CBP’s access to these facilities could affect the San Diego-area ports of entry in Otay Mesa, San Ysidro, and Tecate, as well as Calexico in Imperial County.

Some CBP officers from Imperial County also use the Otay Range for qualifications and training.

After evaluating the potential effects on border operations, commerce, workers, and surrounding communities, Sheriff Martinez decided to continue allowing CBP to use the Otay Range while future options are explored.

What Does This Mean for Trucking Companies?

At this time, this decision does not mean that longer border wait times have been announced.

Instead, maintaining CBP’s access to these training facilities is intended to help avoid operational disruptions that, according to authorities, could contribute to lane closures and longer border wait times.

For trucking companies operating daily between the United States and Mexico, this is an important update given the volume of freight and commercial vehicles that depend on our region’s ports of entry.

At RoadKing Insurance Agency, we continue to stay informed about news and changes that may impact the commercial trucking community and cross-border operations.

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