JIUTEPEC, MOR.- The lack of specialized infrastructure for urban logistics and the protectionist international context, among other situations, require a thorough review of the transportation system in Mexico , according to specialists gathered at the 3rd Meeting on Technology and Sustainable Mobility, organized by the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) .
After analyzing the global commitment to sustainable mobility, the speakers pointed out that sustainability must be approached as a comprehensive competitiveness strategy and not just an environmental component.
Energy efficiency and fleet renewal are essential elements for maintaining the operational viability of logistics companies. However, achieving this requires an industrial policy that reduces the country’s vulnerability to gas and fuel imports, according to Isabel Studer , president of the Global Sustainability Alliance .
The domestic market presents itself as a strategic opportunity in a global environment marked by tariffs, subsidies, and fierce competition in clean technologies, Studer said.
In the business case , the progress of Grupo Bimbo was highlighted , which already operates 3,751 electric vehicles in Mexico and more than 4,200 globally, as part of its goal of zero emissions by 2050 .
According to Luis Campos, the company’s global logistics director, the focus is on implementing technologies tailored to each country’s conditions , including renewable natural gas, ethanol, and propane.
On the academic side, a detailed overview of freight transportation in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico was presented , where more than 65% of trips originate and end within the same territory. This operation faces factors such as a lack of loading and unloading areas, deteriorating roads, public transportation disruptions, and insecurity.
Furthermore, more than 60% of distribution vehicles define their routes without the support of specialized logistics tools and park on public roads both for operations and overnight stays, which increases logistical and social risks. This information comes from the Origin-Destination Survey of Goods prepared by the Engineering Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and presented by researcher Angélica Lozano.
On the technological front, tools such as real-time fleet management systems , artificial intelligence, and, in the near future, quantum computing were mentioned to solve complex logistics problems such as route optimization. However, it was noted that the digital divide continues to limit their implementation in marginalized or peripheral sectors.
Collaboration between academia, industry, and government, as well as investment in specialized logistics infrastructure, are necessary conditions for advancing sustainable freight mobility, the panelists explained.
They agreed that without data-driven decisions, the development of efficient public policies will be unviable, and with it, so will the country’s logistics competitiveness.
