Insecurity continues to be the main factor limiting the competitiveness of freight transport in Nuevo León, even above economic uncertainty or the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , according to Melissa Tamez Cárdenas, delegate of the National Chamber of Freight Transport (Canacar) in Monterrey.
Shortly before completing 100 days in charge of the delegation , Tamez pointed out that, although violent robberies of vehicles do not occur with the same frequency in Nuevo León as in other regions of the country, crimes that directly impact the operation of transport companies do persist, particularly cargo theft and extortion.
“In Monterrey, violent robberies or vehicle thefts are not as common as in other parts of the country, but cargo theft, especially of steel, does occur,” he commented.
According to Tamez, insecurity affects the assets of companies and the availability of operators, since fewer and fewer people see transportation as an activity with attractive conditions for professional development.
Added to this is a problem he described as critical for the region: extortion . Tamez referenced data from CAINTRA , where Monterrey accounts for seven of the ten municipalities with the highest rates of extortion nationwide , a situation that directly impacts transportation companies.
The delegate explained that another recurring challenge for companies is the lack of standardized traffic regulations among the municipalities that make up the Monterrey metropolitan area. This situation creates confusion for out-of-town carriers regarding restricted hours, routes, and traffic limits, which opens the door to fines and corruption.
As part of his objectives at the head of the delegation , Tamez indicated that he is working to reduce the effects of extortion through Canacar’s participation in working groups with federal, state and municipal authorities, in addition to strengthening direct attention to members.
Among the results highlighted in his first 100 days was the signing of agreements with towing companies to offer services with preferential rates to Canacar members, a measure aimed at reducing operating costs derived from towing services.
He also reported that the delegation registered a 0.5% growth in affiliations during the period, equivalent to 56 additional units incorporated into a base of close to 10,000 vehicles .
Regarding infrastructure , he stressed that the expansion works of the Metro system in the metropolitan area currently represent one of the main factors of road congestion for freight transport.
Regarding the economic environment , he maintained that insecurity remains the main barrier to investment in vehicle renewal, even above the discussion about the USMCA.
“Those who were thinking about renewing the fleet said: yes, but if I renew it, what guarantee do I have that it won’t be stolen?” he pointed out.
Tamez believes that strengthening security and legal certainty will be key to maintaining investment in the sector and improving Mexico’s position in future trade negotiations.
Given this scenario, he called on companies to strengthen the use of technology , artificial intelligence, monitoring, cameras, and response protocols to reduce operational risks and improve the capacity to respond to incidents.
Among other achievements of his administration, he highlighted the outreach to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TexasDOT) to learn about best practices in police training related to transportation, as well as his participation in initiatives related to the Roma International Bridge, focused on streamlining and making border crossings safer.
In defining his leadership style, Tamez describes himself as a “dynamic and energetic” person, a characteristic he attributes to the intense schedule of meetings, working groups, encounters with national and international authorities and organizations that he has maintained since his appointment.
Beyond the results achieved, she stated that she seeks to be remembered for her commitment to defending the competitiveness of the trucking industry and for her passion for an industry she considers strategic for the country’s economic development.
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