In a context where highway insecurity continues to be one of the main challenges for trucking in Mexico, freight companies also face another blow to their operations: fuel theft and the increase in downtime of their vehicles .
In addition to the operating costs that fleets already face for fuel, maintenance and tolls, there are illegal practices such as so-called “diesel theft,” which can represent significant losses for transport companies, according to Ángeles Useche, Commercial Director of Total Protect.
The specialist commented that fuel represents up to 50% of a fleet’s operating costs, so any illegal extraction directly impacts the profitability of companies.
He said there are cases where units can lose between 80 and 300 liters of fuel in a single unauthorized unloading, a situation that is aggravated by the current price of diesel and the number of units that operate daily on the road.
Added to this is the operational pressure stemming from peak seasons or large-scale events that cause traffic congestion and downtime for the trucks. Under this logic, the phrase “stopped cargo, stolen cargo” remains prevalent within the sector, especially in corridors where trucks are held up by traffic , blockades, or circulation restrictions .
World Cup would increase operational pressure
According to Useche, during peak travel seasons companies operate virtually their entire fleets, increasing the number of trips by 15 to 20% .
The executive pointed out that this type of scenario requires strengthening prevention and constant monitoring of the units, since the increase in circulation also raises the risk of incidents and robberies.
“They have the advantage of knowing when they are going to act, and we simply have to be very vigilant,” he commented, referring to the criminal groups that operate on highways.
In this environment, the industry also faces the challenge of changing the perception of security as an operating expense and beginning to see it as an investment linked to business continuity.
Useche believes that some companies still limit the adoption of monitoring tools solely due to demands from their clients or insurers, even though daily operations demonstrate that immediate reaction and constant supervision can make a difference in an incident.
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