The marking of federal trucking units was promoted by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) as a strategy to improve safety on Mexico’s roads. However, it continues to generate divided opinions among transporters and industry experts, who question its effectiveness and fear possible abuses by authorities.
Like a vehicle on a road without clear signage, the beacon advances without a defined route . During an event at the Estafeta logistics center , the executive director of supervision of the Federal Motor Transport Directorate (DGAF), Paulino Herrera , reiterated that the beacons will not be mandatory or punishable .
He explained that the initiative arose from a request from the National Guard , with the goal of facilitating the identification of cargo and passenger vehicles in the event of criminal incidents.
“With the wide variety of trailer types available in Mexico to meet the needs of freight transport, it was impossible for us to include all the examples we had seen, so in the February 7 publication, we included an email address (dudasbalizadodgaf@sict.gob.mx) where carriers could receive questions,” Herrera explained.
Accepted by some, hated by others
Several carriers have told T21 that beaconing does not address the main security challenges in the sector .
The doubts arise not only over the details of this provision’s implementation, but also over its costs, effectiveness, and the complications it could cause to road transporters, such as extortion.
According to data from the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERPV) , 68% of vehicle thefts occur in 12 regions, with Puebla and the State of Mexico being the most affected. Furthermore, 76% of thefts target heavy vehicles, which represents a direct blow to logistics and commerce.
General Cruz Isaac Muñoz Navarro, director of highway and facility security for the National Guard (GN) , commented during a security forum at the Chamber of Deputies that cargo transport robberies totaled 7,968 in 2024. However, at the event, transporters believe that the problem remains serious and that extortion by authorities also represents a threat.
Marking does not end with corrupt authority
Carlos García Álvarez, vice president of the Mexican Alliance of Transportation Organizations (AMOTAC) , reported that in many cases, state and municipal police detain transporters and allegedly ” plant drugs” on them.
“They arrest us and plant the famous cocaine, crystal meth, all those drugs on us, and then they plant it, and it’s cost us money. Our operators need a guarantee to make their work easier,” García Álvarez stated at the same event in the Chamber of Deputies.
Faced with these concerns, transporters and industry experts have questioned the lack of a clear surveillance plan to ensure that beaconing doesn’t become another tool for extortion.
Some transport configurations, such as carriers, tanks, and container chassis, have limited areas for marking , leaving open the possibility of arbitrary interpretation by authorities, and perhaps an email will not resolve the issues at the time of the incident.
Costs and feasibility of the measure
Although the measure is not mandatory, many companies will have to bear the cost of implementing it in their fleets. The SICT has estimated an investment of 250 pesos per unit . However, transporters have commented that the price is “much” higher.
The SICT goal is to mark 1.8 million units , including motor vehicles and trailers.
Jorge Sánchez Núñez , executive director of regulations and permits for federal trucking, explained that “the markings will be applied primarily to the sides, awnings, and rear of the units , prioritizing visibility from the air with the use of video surveillance, drones, and helicopters . ”
While beaconing seeks to improve the identification and tracking of freight and passenger vehicles, transporters and industry experts believe it fails to address the underlying problem : organized crime and corruption on the roads.
The sector continues to demand more effective and technological measures to combat theft and impunity on the roads. Meanwhile, beaconing continues to advance with uncertainty, like a vehicle traveling aimlessly in the midst of a storm of uncertainty.
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