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Puerto Cabello and La Guaira: news for your freight

Puerto Cabello handled 10 vessels at once and La Guaira reopened: what changed at the ports and what it means for your road freight in Venezuela.

Ports are the entry point for much of the cargo that later travels by road, and the last few weeks produced useful information for anyone planning shipments. This roundup includes only what we could verify: the simultaneous handling of 10 vessels at Puerto Cabello, the state of the port of La Guaira, the complaints of the trucking industry and the rules for moving heavy cargo. If you need to move goods out of a port, start with our freight transport service.

Puerto Cabello handled 10 vessels at once

On October 5, the Ministry of Transport reported that Puerto Cabello completed the simultaneous handling of 10 vessels: four container ships, one roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel and one liquid-bulk vessel, plus other ships the report does not detail. The figures released were:

  • 3,833 containers moved;
  • 101,844 tonnes of general cargo unloaded;
  • 135 vehicles received;
  • 5,040 tonnes of molasses loaded for export.

These are official figures for a single operation, not a monthly average. They show the pace the port can reach, but they are not a basis for promising delivery times. Still, the takeaway for road transport is clear: when several vessels discharge at once, many trucks look to leave at the same time toward Valencia – Puerto Cabello, Valencia – Caracas and the rest of the country.

La Guaira: back in operation, with limits

The port of La Guaira was shut for almost 50 days after the double earthquake of June 24. On August 13, El Diario reported that operations had resumed: according to the president of the La Guaira chamber of merchants, industrialists and customs brokers, cargo loading, unloading and vessel reception were fully back. The same official said that of 1,200 customs agents only 100 were working, which points to lower import and export volumes. That is the statement of a single industry source, so treat it as a signal rather than a confirmed figure.

During that shutdown, Hapag-Lloyd announced in July that it was moving La Guaira operations to Puerto Cabello and that empty containers had to be returned to the Puerto Cabello / Sogebusa depot. Around the same time, Fedecámaras Carabobo said the port had the structural capacity but needed immediate adjustments: maintaining cranes and equipment, strengthening logistics between the quay and the warehouses, and speeding up paperwork. It also urged importers to keep their documents in order.

What the trucking industry is asking for

On October 5, Consetransporte issued an appeal about the situation of heavy freight transport. Among its requests, according to La Calle:

  • fuel stations with restrooms, water, tire air, rest areas and pumps suited to heavy vehicles;
  • electronic payment and automated systems at toll booths, to avoid the lines caused by the lack of QR codes;
  • tow and ambulance services on the road, and road repairs;
  • less administrative paperwork.

We already covered toll rates and diesel queues in our October roundup.

Rules for moving heavy cargo

The national traffic authority (INTT) banned cargo vehicles of 3,500 kg or more from 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 11 until 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, for the October 12 holiday. Exempt were trucks carrying food or drinking water, medicine, road assistance, emergency, police and military vehicles, solid waste, domestic gas and fuel tankers. El Diario's report mentions a 2022 joint resolution that regulates heavy cargo traffic on Sundays and national holidays.

As we publish this, we did not find an official announcement for December 2026 in the sources we reviewed. For reference, last year the INTT restricted traffic from December 24 to 25, 2025 with the same 3,500 kg threshold. Check the calendar before you set any dispatch date.

What it means for your shipment

  • Confirm where your container is. If your cargo was diverted from La Guaira to Puerto Cabello, check with your shipping line or agent where it is discharged and where the empty must be returned.
  • Book the truck before the vessel docks. With several ships discharging at once, demand for transport rises, and you don't want to pay storage while you look for a unit.
  • Carry complete paperwork. Review the documents for transporting goods in Venezuela before leaving the port.
  • Avoid Sundays and holidays for non-exempt cargo. If your shipment is not among the exceptions, schedule it before or after the restriction.
  • Protect the cargo. Good packing and insurance make the difference on long waits; see our guides to packing and labeling and cargo insurance.
  • Think about the final destination. Trucks leave Puerto Cabello for Barquisimeto and Maracaibo; book early on long routes.

How Transporte Mundial helps

We move cargo from Puerto Cabello and the central region to any state in the country, with GPS tracking and quotes that spell out what is included. If you ship often, our business logistics service schedules the departures for you, and for parcels and small loads that cannot wait there is express shipping. Read our customer reviews and request your quote by calling +58 414-423-2988.

Sources

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