The review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , highway insecurity, and the urgent need to renew a fleet with an average age of 19 years set the tone for the 2026 Ordinary General Assembly of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) .
During the ceremony, the 2026-2027 National Board of Directors was sworn in , headed by Augusto Ramos Melo, who assumed the national presidency of the organization, replacing Miguel Ángel Martínez Millán. In his first address as president, Ramos highlighted the sector’s economic importance: more than 200,000 companies and the movement of over 80% of the country’s land freight.
He emphasized that the review of the USMCA, which will take place next July, will be a key moment for the trucking industry , and stated that Canacar will maintain close contact with authorities and legislators to defend the sector’s competitiveness.
Among the initial commitments, he announced a 100-day work plan , with monthly progress reports, and the goal of promoting 50 new safe rest stops during this year, a measure directly linked to the safety of the operators.
Security and infrastructure at the heart of the debate
Security was one of the most frequently reiterated themes by legislators and federal authorities. From the Chamber of Deputies , Víctor Manuel Pérez Díaz, president of the Communications and Transportation Committee, emphasized that cargo theft is a direct threat to competitiveness and the safety of drivers.
According to the analysis Mexico: Annual Report 2025 on cargo theft , carried out by Overhaul , during the past year, cargo theft in Mexico showed a greater geographical dispersion, although it was concentrated in the most industrialized regions, with the center (51%) and the Bajío (31%) being the areas that registered the highest incidence, with 82 percent.
At the same time, the importance of modernizing the fleet was emphasized in the context of the USMCA review and the challenges of regional competitiveness.
Institutional coordination was another key message during the assembly, aimed at strengthening the road transport sector, which will require concrete actions in infrastructure, security, and administrative modernization.
In that regard, the Undersecretary of Communications and Transportation, Tania Carro Toledo, highlighted that progress is being made in “the conservation and modernization of highway infrastructure, the strengthening of public road safety on the federal highway network, the promotion of the construction of comprehensive rest stops, and the incorporation of new technologies for the simplification and digitization of procedures.”
Augusto Ramos also mentioned the shortage of 90,000 operators in the country and indicated that he would seek specific treatment for the operators’ work schedule, arguing that it cannot be equated with other sectors. He also ruled out the possibility of the new administration resorting to strikes or blockades as a pressure tactic, prioritizing instead ongoing working groups with authorities.
Institutional presence and regional vision
The assembly included the participation of federal legislators, representatives from the National Guard , the Ministry of Economy , and business organizations. On the economic and trade front, Juan Carlos Baker, CEO of Ansley International Consultants , also participated, providing insights into the international environment and the scenarios Mexico will face within the framework of the North American trade agreement review.
He warned that the USMCA will be key to the country’s logistical competitiveness and highlighted that foreign trade has been the main support of the national economy in recent years.
In January 2026 alone, Mexican exports totaled 48 billion 008 million dollars (mdd) , which meant an increase of 8.1% compared to the same month of 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .
Baker noted that, despite global volatility and tariff tensions in the US political arena, trade between Mexico and the United States continues to grow, which necessitates strengthening infrastructure, legal certainty, and operational efficiency.
In December 2025, Mexico consolidated its position as the main trading partner of its northern neighbor, registering an exchange of goods worth 70 billion 521 million dollars , according to data from the United States Census Bureau .
The institutional message was consistent: freight transport is a structural pillar of the Mexican economy . “Without freight transport, there is no economy worth having,” stated Alejandro Malagón Barragán, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , emphasizing that the sector moves more than 80% of the country’s land freight.
The day also included a tour of “Expo Canacar” , a space in which brands associated with the chamber and companies supplying the sector participated.
Later, already as acting president, Augusto Ramos toured the exhibition area, talking with business partners and representatives of the various brands present, in a sign of institutional continuity and closeness with the sector’s value chain .
With an agenda that combines security, infrastructure, professionalization, vehicle renewal and institutional strengthening, Canacar begins a new stage under the leadership of Augusto Ramos, with the immediate challenge of translating its motto into actions that deliver results for a sector that moves more than eight out of every 10 goods in the country.
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