LOS CABOS, BCS.- The Mexican Intermodal Transportation Association (AMTI) took advantage of its XXVII Intermodal Congress to recognize two of the pillars that drive the evolution of this industry: the talent that has contributed to building it for decades and the technological innovation that is beginning to redefine its future.
Through the presentation of the Silver Container, the organization recognized Luis Garulo for his Intermodal Career and Ferrovalle Intermodal for the OCR Automated Gates project, a solution focused on the automation of access to the terminal, installed in the heart of Mexico City, using artificial vision.
The ceremony became a recognition of the development that intermodal transport has experienced in Mexico in recent years, as well as the people and projects that have contributed to consolidating an increasingly efficient, technologically advanced and competitive ecosystem.
In presenting the Intermodal Career Achievement Award, Luis Hernández, president of AMTI, highlighted Luis Garulo’s influence on the training of generations of professionals in the sector . Beyond his operational experience, he emphasized his role as a mentor and technical authority within an industry that has evolved from terminals with limited processes to complex, integrated logistics platforms.
“Luis Garulo is a leading figure in intermodal transportation in North America. Luis is one of the key figures in integrating intermodal transport ,” Hernández said, recalling a professional relationship that spans more than a decade and highlighting the honoree’s willingness to share his knowledge with those starting their careers in the sector.
The association leader also emphasized that the recognition reflects a career dedicated to strengthening operational standards and processes that are now part of the evolution of intermodal transport in the region. “Luis, please accept this well-deserved tribute for all your years invested in making this industry a world-class model,” he stated.
The distinction is based on a professional career linked to the development of railway solutions and international customer service.
Garulo is part of Union Pacific Railroad’s international customer service and support team. Throughout his career, he has established himself as one of the most experienced specialists in integrating rail and logistics operations between Mexico and the United States, a characteristic that explains the recognition he has received from the industry.
Upon receiving the Silver Container, Garulo responded with a brief but meaningful message for an industry that continues to expand its reach in North America. “It is a privilege to be part of Intermodal’s history in Mexico and to keep moving forward. That is what we are here for, and to grow even further,” he stated.
The ceremony also served to highlight the role of technological innovation in transforming supply chains. Through an audiovisual message, AMTI emphasized that the Silver Container for Innovation recognizes projects capable of generating tangible improvements in national logistics through operational efficiency, reduced environmental impact, strengthened infrastructure, economic viability, and the adoption of disruptive technologies.
Among seven participating initiatives, the recognition was awarded to Ferrovalle Intermodal for OCR Automated Gates , a project that automates the entry and exit processes of tractor-trailer trucks using optical character recognition and artificial vision technology.
According to the project presentation, the solution allows for validations to be performed in a matter of seconds, optimizing first and last mile operations, strengthening real-time traceability, and reducing polluting emissions by decreasing waiting times and vehicular congestion within the terminal.
Upon receiving the award, Francisco Fabila, general director of Ferrocarril y Terminal del Valle de México (Ferrovalle Intermodal) , emphasized that innovation is the result of a collective effort and not of a single person.
“This is an award that doesn’t belong to just one person. I believe that at Ferrovalle (the award) belongs to the entire extended family that works here,” he said in front of company representatives who participated in the development of the project.
Fabila highlighted that technological transformation has become one of the organization’s main strategic pillars in recent years, driving initiatives aimed at digitizing processes and reducing dependence on paper in logistics operations.
“I believe we have consolidated a vision where all solutions must have a technological component,” he stated. He even set an ambitious goal for the terminal: “We do want to be one of the most paperless terminals and logistics hubs in Mexico, completely paperless.”
Beyond the recognition received, the executive considered the award a commitment to continue promoting solutions that raise the standards of the intermodal industry. “This makes us very proud, but it also commits us. We are committed to continuing to improve industry standards,” he stated.
Thus, the delivery of the Silver Container once again reflected the two forces that currently shape the development of intermodal transport in Mexico: the experience accumulated by those who have contributed to building the sector for decades and the technological innovation that seeks to respond to the challenges of efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness that modern logistics faces.
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