The Port of Entry Advisory Committee voted to send a message to the mayor and city council asking that empty containers ("empties") continue to be routed to the Columbia Bridge rather than be returned to World Trade Bridge. A member moved the motion and it was seconded; the committee chair called the motion approved after members said "Aye."

Committee members and trade representatives described the current routing change, implemented after December 2021, as having eased congestion at World Trade Bridge while shifting roughly 1,000 empty-container trips to Columbia Bridge during the initial change and leaving about 2,000 empties still crossing at World Trade on particular days. One presenter told the committee World Trade processes about 8,500 trucks on many days and that the facility would reach capacity near 10,000 trucks. The presenter said the change was intended to relieve congestion at World Trade and to encourage enrollment in a trusted-shipper program that allows use of World Trade Bridge lanes.

The committee heard industry support for the status quo from the Laredo Motor Carriers Association representative, who thanked staff for the change and for enforcement of rules affecting driver eligibility. Several committee members urged the mayor and council to consider timing of World Trade Bridge expansion work before altering empty-container routing, saying expansion would not immediately remove long queues on the Mexican side and that returning empties could create capacity problems even after planned expansion.

Committee discussion also touched on enrollment in the trusted-shipper program (described in the meeting as a CT Pad/CTPAT enrollment effort). Presenters said program enrollment is intended to allow more carriers to use World Trade lanes and that staff expect to continue outreach to enroll eligible carriers. Some members emphasized that non‑CPAD/CTPAD-certified carriers had been those most affected by the change and that having a local CPAD office should help more carriers enroll.

No ordinance, statute, or formal regulatory citation was offered during the discussion; the committee's formal action was the motion to notify the mayor and council to maintain the current routing of empty containers to Columbia Bridge.

The committee's motion will be conveyed to the mayor and city council; no additional formal direction to staff, budgetary commitments, or deadlines were recorded in the transcript.