The economic slowdown in Mexico has placed the trucking industry at a complex crossroads : less cargo to move, a rising cost chain that threatens profitability and operational continuity, and market pressures to adjust rates.
Added to this equation are external factors such as tariffs, poor infrastructure, and insecurity, which increasingly narrow the scope for maneuver for companies.
The result is a scenario in which competing solely on price is unsustainable , and where “invisible” challenges for the customer become the real battlefield, according to industry experts consulted by T21.
“It’s challenging because loads are going down and costs are going up,” describes Alan León Wong, general manager of 501 RT , who has seen how pressures are forcing them to differentiate themselves and stop being a simple “commodity.”
Safety has also become a priority expense , due to training for operators and monitoring personnel, incorporation of telemetry and cameras, and protocols to mitigate risks on the road, according to Ricardo Torres, general director of THR .
“We are the most vulnerable link in the entire supply chain,” Torres says. Behind every tariff is a cost structure that includes security, maintenance, certifications, and social security for operators, he explains.
In this sense, the outlook is “strange and critical ,” says Julio Mora, general manager of Movac Express . Although the exchange rate favors the national currency, the cost of vehicles, tires, and spare parts has skyrocketed, testing companies’ investment capacity, he emphasizes.
Added to this is a change in customer payment behavior, which now takes longer to settle bills, impacting cash flow.
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