6 Insights: $1.73B BUILD Grants and Importer Impacts

Context for U.S. importers

Context: The DOT BUILD grants will influence Supply Chain Resilience for U.S. importers.

These investments affect ports, highways, and freight network capacity nationwide.

Use freight analytics to monitor bottlenecks and shipping rates.

BUILD grant overview and scope

DOT allocated $1.73 billion to 127 projects across states and territories.

The BUILD program funds surface transportation projects with local and regional impact.

It was created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

BUILD operated under annual appropriations until authorization in November 2021.

Funding breakdown and exact figures

Roads and bridges received $1.3 billion, roughly 77% of total funding.

Port infrastructure received $136.8 million to expand capacity and reduce bottlenecks.

Transit projects received $169.9 million to enhance safety and reliability.

Truck parking received $62 million to address nationwide truck parking shortages.

Aviation infrastructure received more than $11 million for airport roadways.

Freight and passenger rail initiatives received $87.7 million for modernization.

Implications for Landed Cost and CBP Compliance

Infrastructure improvements change transit times and therefore affect Landed Cost calculations.

Faster port throughput reduces demurrage, detention, and variable landed charges.

Improved road and rail connections can lower inland drayage and inventory carrying costs.

CBP Compliance teams should update entry timelines and valuation assumptions accordingly.

Ports, rail, and trucking operational impacts

Port upgrades target maritime bottlenecks and aim to restore maritime capacity dominance.

Rail investments focus on modernizing corridors that move goods and passengers more efficiently.

Modernizing cross-border infrastructure along land ports and freight corridors enhances trade fluidity between North American partners. U.S. importers managing cross-border flows with northern markets can significantly reduce border dwell times through optimized delivery setups. Establishing streamlined DDP to Canada freight processes ensures smooth transit across upgraded land border infrastructure.

Truck parking investments address a critical constraint for drivers and last-mile reliability.

“America is fortunate to have a Builder in the White House who knows America is only as great as our infrastructure,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

Policy and legislative context

In May 2026 DOT released the 2026 National Freight Strategic Plan guiding federal freight investment.

Federal infrastructure investments aim to relieve congestion across key highway and intermodal networks over time. However, importers still need continuous visibility to route around active construction bottlenecks and regional delays. Integrating data freight solutions helps logisticians monitor real-time throughput and recalculate landed cost models accurately.

The plan covers a nearly 7-million-mile freight network moving 54 million tons daily.

That freight equals more than $68 billion in goods moved each day, per DOT figures.

The House introduced the BUILD America 250 Act as a five-year surface transportation authorization.

The CAGTC cautioned that freight-focused programs must retain dependable funding to remain effective.

Operational recommendations for importers

Upgrading port terminals and inland rail links provides trucking and rail operators with better operational capacity. Shippers must evaluate which transport providers actively utilize these upgraded corridors to maintain high service levels. Tracking carrier quality performance helps importers choose reliable partners that minimize demurrage and detention fees.

1. Recalculate Landed Cost models. Update port dwell and inland transit assumptions used for costing.

2. Audit CBP Compliance timelines. Align entry filing practices with new transit expectations.

3. Prioritize multi-modal routing. Use ports and rail terminals with improved capacity to reduce delays.

4. Plan inventory buffers strategically. Shorter average transit times allow leaner on-hand inventory.

How AiDeliv services can help

Use DDP solutions to simplify cross-border delivery and reduce unexpected landed charges.

AiDeliv offers DDP shipping options from China to streamline customs and final-mile delivery.

Explore DDP shipping from China to evaluate cost and compliance tradeoffs.

Key Takeaways

DOT awarded $1.73 billion across 127 projects to strengthen freight infrastructure.

Major allocations favor roads and bridges, ports, transit, truck parking, aviation, and rail.

Importers should reassess Landed Cost, CBP Compliance, and routing to capture benefits.

Use freight analytics and DDP options to convert infrastructure improvements into cost advantages.