Cargo traffic resumed, but not as before. The highway blockades that occurred on February 22 in various Mexican states, following the federal operation in which Rubén “N”, known as “El Mencho”, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed, forced a halt to operations and the activation of internal protocols in the freight transport sector.
The reactivation began gradually, accompanied by regional pauses, strategic detours, and ongoing risk assessment sessions.
Meanwhile, the National Guard Highways reported on its social media account that, following the incidents, it is working in coordination with emergency services to clear the roads and urged users to heed traffic signs and drive with caution.
According to Overhaul , based on information from Red Vía Corta —operated by Red de Carreteras de Occidente (RCO)— and in communication with authorities at all three levels of government, most of the road blockades have been cleared at the main affected points in the following regions:
- Northern Region .
- Central Region .
- Western Region .
- Bajío Region .
The analysis indicated that the federal government maintains operational control and a reinforced presence of security forces in strategic corridors, with permanent monitoring to guarantee mobility and deter new incidents.
However, he warned that in some sections there is still intermittent traffic and considerable congestion resulting from reopening maneuvers and ongoing security operations.
In that context, Transportes Innovativos confirmed that it agrees with the official information and indicates that some points in Jalisco remain blocked due to the removal of damaged units .
“There is no information about any new blockades,” said Alejandra Valenzuela, executive director for the western region of the company.
Valenzuela explained that the company conducts reviews with its entire management team in two-hour intervals to assess the situation in the country and on the various highways.
In Jalisco, he explained, most cargo-generating companies halted operations, and export shipments are expected to begin resuming this Tuesday. In the Bajío region and Monterrey, however, activity began to pick up again this Monday.
Total pauses, partial reactivations
In the case of Transmontes , the company decided to pause all operations following Sunday’s events and activated a security task force that met regularly to assess the situation. It is currently operating at its northern, northeastern, and Bajío terminals; however, its port terminal in Manzanillo remains closed while it continues to monitor the situation in that area.
Transportes Monroy Schiavon (TMS) also completely halted its operations after being affected by blockades and restricted yard exits, securing units in nearby locations and under surveillance.
The operation was gradually resumed after confirming the status of highways and blockades with the National Guard . It is currently operating in the metropolitan area and to most of its destinations; however, services to Guadalajara and routes crossing through Jalisco, Colima, and Puerto Vallarta remain suspended. Buses bound for the Pacific coast are being rerouted to avoid that region.
In the case of Transportes Industriales Unidos (TIUSA) , the company reported an incident of vandalism on one of its units in transit through Michoacán and is maintaining a gradual reactivation of operations, subject to safe transit conditions and in coordination with its clients, commented Raúl Camacho Reyes, general manager of the firm.
Likewise, other companies consulted by T21 indicated that they remain on alert regarding their units and prioritize the safety of their operators.
Recommendations for strategic corridors
Overhaul’s logistics intelligence analysis warned that the events impacted strategic routes such as the Guadalajara–Tepic highway (MEX-15D), the Guadalajara–Colima highway (MEX-80/MEX-54), the Mexico–Queretaro corridor (MEX-57D) and the Mexico–Puebla highway (MEX-150D), among other sections.
In its short-term assessment (24–72 hours), it put forward a series of operational recommendations to mitigate risks in land transport:
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Increased military and federal presence at access points and corridors.
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Possible intermittent blockages in the short term.
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Risks for just-in-time supply chains .
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Delays to strategic ports in the Pacific and Gulf.
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Increased logistics costs due to deviations and downtime.
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Need for institutional coordination and validated communication to avoid misinformation.
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Clear protocols for action with a zero-confrontation principle and active emergency channels.
The measures adopted by the companies consulted —operational pauses, activation of security committees, periodic evaluation sessions, strategic deviations and reactivation by region— are aligned with this approach: operational continuity conditioned by the environment and with security as the central focus .
The cargo started moving again. But now it does so under constant verification and official confirmation.
Comment and follow us on LinkedIn: @Karina Quintero / @GrupoT21
