Mexico, with highways, ports, railways, and a manufacturing sector increasingly integrated into North American supply chains, faces a lack of logistics talent to boost its competitiveness; the shortage is no longer limited to truck drivers, but also extends to strategic positions such as freight negotiation, warehousing, and customs services , among many others. 

Behind this situation lies a gap between the demands of an increasingly technological and complex supply chain , and the capabilities with which new professionals enter the labor market. 

The 2026 Logistics Pulse Survey —conducted by nine leading industry organizations— identifies the lack of specialized talent as one of the main limitations to the industry’s growth and points to an evolution in the profile that companies are looking for: they require knowledge of analytics and data management, strategic planning, handling of complex operations and digital transformation . 

Abraham Weller, a specialist and consultant in international trade and logistics, observes a disconnect between companies and universities. “Logistics companies need to take the initiative to partner with universities and design real programs that encompass the triple helix model (academia, business, and government),” he stated in an interview with T21.  

The difficulty becomes clearer when looking for a multidisciplinary profile. “Finding a profile with a high level of expertise, who is proficient in geography, tariffs, law, and negotiation, I would say is at an eight out of ten in terms of complexity,” he maintains.

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El cargo Where is the new logistics talent? apareció primero en T21.

In the face of the economic environment and the United States’ tariff policy, Grupo Cebra continues to focus on its growth in the state of Jalisco, where it has already begun new projects in industrial parks .

José Ernesto Ceballos, president of the company’s board, said that the firm has focused on the needs of its clients, “and not just build an industrial park for the sake of it, but adapt to what they require.”

“The plans are to continue growing, becoming more efficient, and offering better products. SJ Industrial Parks aims to have the best products and provide the best customer service,” he mentioned in an interview with T21.

He announced that the second phase of his San José Uno industrial park will begin, which will be ready in 2028 .

In that regard, he pointed out that they have met with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to ensure the energy required by the various sectors or technologies that reach their facilities.

However, the CEO of SJ Industrial Parks also explained that the challenge is not only in energy matters, but also in guaranteeing the use of water and other services, including security.

“All our parks are enclosed; we spend money on private security and staff. Both the federal and state governments have worked hard on this issue, but they still have a lot to do, and while we invest, which generates a very high expense, we invest it to move forward,” he pointed out.

Ceballos explained that investment has been concentrated in Jalisco , more so than in Tijuana and the State of Mexico. “Investing in the state has gone well for us, and we do it with our own resources, and we will continue to do so,” he asserted.

He said that, unlike other states, Jalisco has experienced growth in the sector, so the outlook for the company at the end of the year is positive.

“Foreign investment continues to grow in the state, and many of the companies located here are looking for opportunities to expand. We see good prospects, but we also have to work for the future, at a global level, with the United States government, which puts many obstacles in our way. It’s complex, but we have overcome them,” he emphasized.

The industrial parks built by Grupo Cebra are aimed at different sectors such as electronics, agriculture, manufacturing , among others.

According to the executive, the investment in the projects varies; for example, in SJ Puerta Vieja it will be 125 million dollars (USD) which covers everything from urbanization to the construction of the warehouses, while for SJ Diana it will be 25 million dollars.

According to the Association of Industrial Parks of the State of Jalisco (APIEJ) , as of the fourth quarter of 2025, the industrial market in the state recorded a gross absorption of 270,160 square meters (m2), a net absorption of 250,573 m2, and an availability of 364,199 m2.

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El cargo Grupo Cebra accelerates expansion in Jalisco; prepares new projects in its industrial parks apareció primero en T21.

In response to changes in supply chain security measures implemented by the United States to combat the trafficking of synthetic drugs and chemical precursors, Mexico must move towards its own framework that strengthens logistical protection without affecting foreign trade .

This was the position put forward by the Mexican Association of Freight Forwarders (Amacarga) when presenting an analysis of the international environment of global supply chains, in which it highlighted the need to build a national model that is compatible and complementary with the objectives of the US administration, but adapted to the reality and needs of the country.

The organization noted that companies involved in international logistics possess strategic information and operational knowledge that authorities can hardly obtain on their own, and therefore considered it essential to leverage these capabilities to strengthen risk management within the supply chain.

He mentioned that the country has the capacity to respond and is not starting from scratch, since freight forwarders currently have experience in customs compliance , document traceability, cargo security, risk management and knowledge of international operations.

In addition, he indicated that organizations in the sector have developed training programs and tools aimed at strengthening the security and professionalization of their companies.

In that regard, Juan Pablo Pacheco, Vice President of International Affairs at Amacarga, clarified that the objective is not to turn freight forwarders into investigative authorities, but to establish clear rules on the information they can provide to the State and the institutional mechanisms to do so.

“It is about defining what information the sector can provide, under what rules, with what responsibilities and through what institutional channels,” he said.

The analysis warns that one of the main challenges to advancing this scheme is achieving legal recognition of the freight forwarder in Mexico ; this measure would formalize their role within the supply chain and develop proportionate standards in terms of security, training, due diligence, traceability and cooperation with the authorities.

According to Pacheco, this step would open the door for the country to evolve towards reliable operator schemes aligned with international best practices, simultaneously strengthening security and trade facilitation.

Amacarga’s assessment takes as a reference the executive order issued by the White House in June 2026 , which strengthens the verification procedures applicable to importers, customs agents, custodians and freight agents, as part of the US strategy to combat the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic narcotics.

It also considers the discussions held recently during POSTAL 9, held in Vienna, Austria, where US authorities, international organizations, postal operators, express courier companies and representatives of the logistics sector participated to exchange best practices in supply chain security.

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El cargo Amacarga proposes a logistics security model compatible with the EU apareció primero en T21.

The implementation of the Electronic Value Declaration (MVE) in Mexico will have a differentiated schedule depending on the customs regime. The Tax Administration Service (SAT) released a new advance version that extends the transition period until October 31, 2026, and schedules the mandatory transmission for definitive imports starting January 15, 2027.

The adjustment was announced on September 30, through the first advance version of the Third Resolution of Modifications to the General Rules of Foreign Trade (RGCE) for 2026. Its publication occurred on the last day of the period foreseen by the previous resolution, which allowed to continue with the traditional scheme until that date.

Under the new schedule, the transmission of data will begin on November 1 for goods destined for processing, transformation, or repair in a bonded warehouse; on November 15 for strategic bonded warehouses; on December 1 for goods in transit; and on December 15 for bonded warehouses. Temporary imports must comply starting January 1, 2027, followed by permanent imports on the 15th of the same month, for the corresponding operations.

The update was released as an advance version on the SAT website. The document establishes that it will take effect the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) , while the advance provisions will take effect in accordance with rule 1.1.2.

The Electronic Customs Declaration (MVE) allows for the integration of information related to the customs value of goods entering the country and its submission through the Digital Window. The system has been available since August 1, 2025, although the requirement for electronic transmission has been extended to allow foreign trade users time to prepare.

This change means that, in accordance with rule 1.5.1, the E2 “Value Declaration” form, along with the corresponding information and documentation, must be submitted for each transaction. Your e-document must be declared in the import declaration, and the importer must keep the digital file for the period stipulated in the Federal Tax Code.

For customs clearance coordination, the importer may authorize, using their Taxpayer Identification Number (RFC), the individuals, agents, or customs agencies who will consult and download the declaration and its attachments. When the customs agent is not authorized to access the file, they must receive it in digital format, including any modifications.

This process is further enhanced by the documentary facilitations established in the Second Amendment Resolution, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) on September 22. Until December 31, 2026, it will not be necessary to resubmit the transport, origin, and guarantee documents stipulated in Article 81 of the Customs Law Regulations with the declaration , provided they are submitted in accordance with Article 36-A of the Law.

During that same period, importers may choose to submit the E15 form, “Information on contracts associated with the Declaration of Value,” containing general contract details and under penalty of perjury, instead of sending the complete contracts. This option has its own deadline, separate from the dates established for each customs procedure.

According to the Mexican Tax Administration Service (SAT) and the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) , the electronic filing process prior to customs clearance aims to prevent errors in determining duties and facilitate audits by the authorities. For importers, the transition involves organizing the information that supports the declared value and exchanging it with customs brokers, also taking into account the exceptions provided for in rule 1.5.1.

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El cargo SAT staggers the MVE; definitive imports will have a deadline until January 2027 apareció primero en T21.

Ricardo Treviño Chapa ‘s career has taken him from Mexico’s tax and customs administration to leading an international agenda: how to modernize customs, measure its results, and prepare it for changes already impacting trade . His term as Deputy Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) , a position he has held since January 2018 and to which he was re-elected in 2022, will conclude on October 31. His departure will occur before the end of this second five-year term.

Treviño Chapa communicated his decision to the members of the organization in a letter dated September 25 in Brussels. In it, he admits that leaving the WCO early was not an easy decision. He does not explain his reasons nor announce a new professional destination. The text serves primarily as a summary of almost nine years of work and as a statement on the role the Secretariat should play in relation to the customs administrations that comprise the organization.

“What matters most to me is not any particular initiative, but what we have been able to achieve together,” he wrote in his message. This phrase encapsulates the tone of a farewell address in which he attributes the progress to the work of the WCO members and staff. It also allows us to interpret his tenure through a more demanding question than simply listing projects: how much of that agenda has actually been translated from international plans into the daily operations of customs?

Before arriving in Brussels, Treviño Chapa had worked in various areas of the Mexican public administration. He worked at the Institute for the Protection of Bank Savings (IPAB) and later held the positions of Director General of Revenue Collection and Director General of the Institute of Social Security of the State of Mexico and Municipalities (ISSEMyM) . In 2013, he joined the Tax Administration Service (SAT) as General Administrator of Evaluation and Internal Affairs, with responsibilities related to integrity and transparency. Two years later, he assumed the position of Director General of Customs (AGA) , which he headed until 2017.

In that last position, according to his biography published by the WCO, he promoted the digitization of customs procedures, cooperation with other authorities present at the borders , and exchange with the customs of Mexico’s main trading partners.

He also served as the WCO’s regional vice president for the Americas and the Caribbean. His education combines a bachelor’s degree from Tec de Monterrey with a master’s degree in Global Banking and International Finance from the University of Birmingham .

Her arrival at the Deputy Secretary General’s office brought that experience to a different scale. The WCO brings together administrations with very different capabilities, priorities, and pressures: some seek to reduce processing times; others, to improve revenue collection, curb illicit trafficking, or incorporate technology without losing control over their processes. In the letter, Treviño Chapa maintains that she sought to keep the Secretariat’s work anchored in the needs of these members and to strengthen direct consultation so that their perspectives would influence the organization’s priorities.

This vision is reflected in the WCO Strategic Plan 2025-2028 , developed with input from members and the Secretariat. The document identifies digital transformation, supply chain disruptions, sustainability, and geopolitical changes as key factors that should guide the organization’s work. It also proposes focusing resources on activities that provide the greatest value to customs administrations. In his farewell address, Treviño Chapa presented the strategic review and the strengthening of the relationship with members as central to his assessment.

One of the most concrete projects of this phase is the WCO Performance Measurement Mechanism . Its purpose is for customs administrations to evaluate their performance using comparable indicators in four dimensions: trade facilitation and competitiveness, revenue collection, security and social protection, and institutional development. Participation is voluntary and includes a self-assessment; peer review is conducted upon request by the participating administration. The mechanism aims to identify weaknesses, guide reforms, and direct technical assistance toward demonstrable needs.

Treviño Chapa followed its development from the earliest versions. In 2023, he pointed out that it should be built gradually and inclusively to address the need for evidence-based decision-making. In June 2026, he opened a workshop in Brussels to train facilitators capable of supporting customs agencies in diagnosing and reviewing the mechanism. The shift from designing indicators to preparing specialists to apply them illustrates both the project’s progress and its remaining challenge: ensuring that the measurement produces verifiable improvements in each country.

Her work also touched on the relationship between customs and other actors in the logistics chain . In 2023, she participated in the presentation of the first joint guidelines of the WCO and the International Association of Ports on cooperation between customs and port authorities. Coordination in the exchange of information and the movement of goods is an operational issue for ports, where a customs decision can affect the flow of cargo beyond the customs area.

At the same time, Treviño Chapa has insisted that facilitating trade does not eliminate the responsibility to confront threats to security and institutional integrity . In March 2026, he warned about the pressure that criminal organizations exert on customs officials and cited results from WCO surveys in which, in some participating administrations, up to 20% acknowledged having received threats or pressure from organized crime. This figure does not describe all customs agencies worldwide, but it illustrates the scale of a risk that could undermine any modernization program.

In his letter, the Mexican official also highlights a plan to modernize the WCO itself , a new direction for its capacity-building programs, and forward-looking work to anticipate changes. These initiatives, according to his own assessment, aim to make the organization’s response more effective in the face of a changing technological, economic, and geopolitical environment. Their implementation and results will continue to be evaluated after his departure.

Treviño Chapa concluded his message with a thought on the legitimacy of international organizations : it derives from their members, whom the Secretariat must serve. “Your trust has been both an honor and a responsibility,” he told them. When he formally steps down on October 31, he will conclude a nearly nine-year tenure leading the WCO. The most important test for the agenda he helped to advance will then remain: ensuring that the instruments of strategy, cooperation, and measurement translate into more effective customs systems that meet the needs of trade and society.

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El cargo Ricardo Treviño, the Mexican who put the world’s customs to the test apareció primero en T21.

The “Made in Mexico” label is gaining ground beyond manufactured goods to encompass the services that enable trade. Following this trend, four companies belonging to the Veracruz Investor Group (Griver) , involved in various aspects of logistics and foreign trade, received this certification from the Ministry of Economy .

Griver, RECO , RICSA and Neutral Connection Logistics (NCL) obtained the distinction, an official recognition that certifies the Mexican origin of the products and services.

The delivery was led by officials from the Ministry of Economy, including Ignacio Aguado , Director General of Innovation, Services and Domestic Trade; Carlos Alfonso Candelaria , head of the Prospective, Planning and Evaluation Unit; and Salomón Rosas , Director General of Competitiveness and Competition.

The recognition comes at a time when the federal agency is seeking to strengthen its relationship with logistics and supply chain stakeholders to identify needs and develop public policies aimed at increasing competitiveness.

“It was the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, who entrusted us with the task of coordinating the logistics sector , reaching out to chambers of commerce, associations, and, above all, to the most important players in the logistics and supply chain sector in the country,” said Ignacio Aguado.

The award ceremony was also preceded by a visit from Economy officials to Griver’s facilities in Veracruz, where they learned about part of its logistics infrastructure , including its capabilities for handling refrigerated goods.

Aguado highlighted that this type of infrastructure allows serving companies involved in both imports and exports and serves, from the government’s perspective, to identify actions, incentives and policies that support the needs of the logistics sector.

For Griver, the recognition comes after a business evolution that has taken the group from activities related to customs clearance to building a portfolio that incorporates technology, logistics infrastructure, specialized services, security for goods and international transport .

Although Griver was legally incorporated in 2002, its business history dates back several decades. Its transformation gained momentum during the 1990s, when trade liberalization resulting from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) altered the needs of companies involved in foreign trade and led the group to invest in infrastructure and technology.

This process also explains the diversity of the companies that now receive the distinction.

RECO represents the group’s technology arm and has been operating for three decades. RICSA participates in bonded warehouse services; while NCL, which began operations in 2024, extended the value chain to include forwarding and international logistics services.

From the Ministry of Economy, Salomón Rosas precisely linked the recognition with the role that these activities have within a commercial scenario that is going through a new transformation .

“Logistics is undoubtedly the key to competitiveness. Even more so now, as Secretary Marcelo Ebrard has pointed out, we are experiencing a very significant change in trade and production dynamics,” he noted.

For Edgar López, CEO of Griver, carrying the brand also implies a responsibility for a group that has gone through four generations and whose activity has expanded into different areas related to the movement of goods.

The executive stated that the organization’s growth project no longer rests solely on its customs origins, but incorporates logistics, port, technology, and international trade aspects.

“Know that we will wear this distinction with pride , and that we will respect it through professionalization, through good governance, which is part of what distinguishes us,” López stated during the award ceremony.

The incorporation of the four companies into “Made in Mexico” thus places the distinctive mark within a field that transcends the manufacture of goods: that of the services that intervene so that a merchandise can cross a customs, be stored, protected, transported or integrated into an international chain.

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El cargo Griver puts the “Made in Mexico” stamp on its logistics ecosystem apareció primero en T21.

For years, the design of warehouses and distribution centers followed a simple logic: receive goods, consolidate them, and keep them available until needed. However, the shift in the location of manufacturing operations and the pressure on logistics costs are leading companies to rethink that structure.

In an interview with T21, Wilbert Barrera, a consultant in Storage Systems Engineering for the northern region at PM STEELE , recalled that previously the focus was on finding lower investment costs, while today companies need to integrate production and logistics processes closer to their consumer markets .

“Before, everything was based on what is commonly called offshoring, or seeking the minimum investment within warehouses in the national territory because almost everything was concentrated in companies from other places, for example in Asia, where labor was much cheaper,” Barrera explained.

The relocation of production lines, known as nearshoring , has contributed to changing this dynamic. In Nuevo León, he explained, the arrival and expansion of manufacturing companies are driving demand for industrial infrastructure, while established companies are looking to adapt their facilities to handle larger volumes and respond more quickly .

Barrera said that companies are seeking to integrate a supply chain that encompasses everything from raw material procurement to finished product assembly, with a location that facilitates distribution to the United States. In this framework, connectivity with Texas has become increasingly important due to its highway network and its access to various markets across the country.

The need to reduce exposure to disruptions also influences decisions. The specialist cited as an example that weather events in Asia can delay the supply of components and affect manufacturing times. In response, some companies have opted to bolster their inventories and relocate some of their operations closer to production and consumption points .

According to the second edition of the “BBVA Mexico-AMPIP Survey ,” members of the Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks (AMPIP) reported that between 2018 and 2022 they received 668 new tenants in their industrial parks, an average of 134 companies per year. This data reflects a search for closer supply chains.

This growth puts pressure on storage infrastructure. The demand for industrial space and rising rental costs make it more difficult to maintain multiple warehouses with fragmented operations.

“You can no longer afford to have two, three, or four warehouses that are consuming your rental costs,” explained Barrera, who believes that organizations should review both their facilities and the movements between them.

From their perspective, the warehouse should no longer be viewed as a flat surface but understood as a three-dimensional space . The goal is to take advantage of vertical space, reduce travel distances, and organize inventory according to its turnover rate, without losing sight of safety and operational speed.

To achieve this, the first step is understanding how each facility operates. Barrera explained that a consultancy should review product traceability, maximum and minimum inventory levels, ABC classification, and the frequency with which each storage unit is moved . With this information, workflows can be designed to meet the needs of each operation, from a distribution center to a cold chain facility or e-commerce platform.

“Many times people think that designing a storage system is like prescribing paracetamol, that the same solution applies to everything you want to give, and that’s not really the case,” he stressed, while mentioning that the selection of the system depends on the type of merchandise, the turnover, the order preparation times and the operating conditions of each company.

In this process, semi-automated systems are gaining ground. The specialist highlighted satellite carts or shuttles , which move pallets within the racks and reduce the need for forklifts to enter the storage aisles. According to the executive, this equipment can speed up movements and help reduce operational risks, as well as avoid adding extra shifts when demand increases.

Digitalization complements physical equipment. Warehouse management systems (WMS) allow for the registration and tracking of products, while integration with automated equipment facilitates the coordination of merchandise movements. In this regard, he emphasized that the transformation also requires training personnel and modifying how operations are managed, not just installing technology.

Another trend is the design of hybrid warehouses , which combine high-density systems for fast-moving products with selective pallet racking for goods that need to be readily accessible, and dedicated areas for order picking. Robotic picking solutions are also being incorporated into some e-commerce operations. The goal is to consolidate more activities in one facility and reduce movement between different locations.

Investment in technology, however, coexists with trade uncertainty. Barrera noted that some storage projects were halted due to concerns about tariffs, particularly in sectors linked to the automotive and aluminum supply chains; however, he stated that they have now fully resumed.

How large companies are redesigning their supply chains will be one of the topics addressed at ETYL MTY , organized by Grupo T21 , where specialists such as Hugo Ruiz , president of the  National Council of Executives in Logistics and Supply Chain (ConaLog) ; Jorge Fares , Supply Chain Development Sr. Director at The Home Depot ; Claudia Núñez , VP Supply Chain at Essity , among others, will participate.

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El cargo How companies are redesigning their warehousing to optimize the supply chain apareció primero en T21.

Developing specialized talent and strategic investments in infrastructure , as well as inter-institutional and intermodal collaboration, are part of the actions that Mexico must work on to become a global logistics powerhouse.

David Lati, Chief Revenue Officer of LDM , said that while the country is seeking to strengthen the logistics model through projects such as the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, investment in highways, optimization of airports, modernization of freeways, construction of more railways, among others, its logistics performance is below that of other countries.

“There is still much to be done, and opportunities are emerging with a view to 2030. We must work on strategic and comprehensive planning. Logistics is no longer just about moving boxes; it’s also about moving data and having specialized personnel who understand the sector and are connected and digitized. We must invest in strategic sectors, inter-institutional and intermodal collaborations to break the existing barriers between customs, ports, railways, and trucking, and create integrated logistics corridors,” he stated.

In an interview with T21, he explained that it is necessary to modernize customs and improve port connectivity , as well as strengthen highway safety models and accelerate work on energy infrastructure, “we have to work to ensure that companies have the right energy.”

He believed that the private sector should continue investing in optimization, robotization, efficiency, and other activities within supply chains, distribution centers, and transportation.

“With the reduction of working hours and adjustments to minimum wages, we have to maintain our competitiveness, which should move us away from that part of cheap assembly, and be able to develop high-value models,” he said .

Regarding the Mexico Plan , in which the government specified the actions to be taken in logistics and supply chains, including the construction of 100 industrial parks, increasing national and regional content, to mention a few, Lati stressed that “at the level of idea and first steps, progress is being made, it is on the public agenda and a budget has been allocated for it, but there are macroeconomic factors and, above all, generating legal certainty so that there is investor confidence in the country.”

David Lati mentioned that bottlenecks exist, such as road insecurity , saturation, and bureaucratization at critical nodes . “Changes in the laws are new rules of the game, but they have to be more efficient, more optimized, and digitized processes,” he stated.

The Ministry of Economy (SE) indicated that the logistics sector represented 7% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024. Meanwhile, the Logistics Performance Index has declined in recent years, ranking 66th, below Canada, the United States, and even Brazil.

At ETYL MTY , which will take place on October 14 and 15 at the Presidente InterContinental, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, the panel “Mexico 2030: global logistics power or wasted opportunity?” will be held , in which the main challenges of the sector will be addressed.

This meeting will include specialists such as Mauricio Garza, CEO of Interpuerto, and Rubén Monroy, Deputy Director of Government Relations for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Mexico , among others.

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El cargo Infrastructure and talent: Mexico’s challenges to becoming a logistics powerhouse apareció primero en T21.

Employment in the transportation, communications, postal and warehousing sector in Mexico  registered a decrease during August 2026, in contrast to the growth observed in the Mexican labor market as a whole.

According to the National Survey of Occupation and Employment (ENOE), prepared by the  National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , the sector accounted for three million 492 thousand 509 people employed in the eighth month of the year , a drop of 1.89% compared to the same month of 2025, when it was three million 559 thousand 873.

This behavior contrasts with the overall performance of the country’s labor market. In August 2026, the employed population in Mexico reached 60.7 million people , an annual increase of 1.2 million, while the Economically Active Population (EAP) reached 62.6 million, 1.3 million more than the previous year.

Logistics lags behind other activities

The reduction recorded in transport, communications, mail and storage occurred while other tertiary activities showed significant progress.

The largest annual increases were seen in miscellaneous services with 790,000 people employed, restaurants and accommodation services with 538,000, professional, financial and corporate services with 247,000, government and international organizations with 242,000, and construction with 146,000 people.

In contrast, the sectors that experienced the greatest decline were agriculture, livestock, forestry, hunting and fishing with 290,000 fewer people; manufacturing with 263,000; and commerce with 161,000 fewer people at an annual rate.

What does this mean for logistics?

This data does not necessarily imply a contraction in logistics demand. Rather, it shows that job growth is not uniform across the activities that make up the supply chain .

Transportation, communications, postal services, and warehousing are activities particularly linked to the behavior of commerce, manufacturing, and the movement of goods. Therefore, the annual reduction of 67,364 people in the sector can be interpreted as a sign that, despite the expansion of some service activities, adjustments persist within segments associated with this activity.

Furthermore, this data should be viewed in conjunction with the performance of the manufacturing and trade industries, which also experienced declines in their employed population during the period.

The labor market continues to grow, but with both positive and negative aspects.

Nationally, the result for August 2026 was moderate expansion. The economic participation rate was 59.3% annually , while the unemployment rate stood at 3% annually.

At the same time, salaried employment reached 41.7 million people, one million more than in August 2025. Self-employment also increased by 342,000 people.

However, some indicators show that the quantitative growth in employment coexists with quality challenges. The rate of informal employment stood at 55% , equivalent to 33.4 million people.

Meanwhile, the underemployed population was 4.3 million people , 64,000 more than last year, although the underemployment rate remained practically stable at 7 percent.

According to INEGI, the National Survey of Occupation and Employment shows the behavior of the Mexican labor market. It provides monthly data on the economically active population, employment, informal employment, underemployment, and unemployment.

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El cargo Employment in the logistics sector loses momentum in August apareció primero en T21.

In a less-than-truckload (LTL) shipment, a few centimeters can make all the difference . If the declared dimensions of a pallet don’t match its actual dimensions, the warehouse space is calculated based on an incorrect figure, and the freight charge may fall short of the actual volume moved. Accurately measuring each shipment seems like a basic task, but doing it manually, repeatedly, and at a scale that is time-consuming, is a real challenge. This is the problem that Grupo Cardinales and FreightSnap are addressing with a partnership that has already begun installing equipment in Mexico and has its sights set on expanding throughout Latin America.

The partnership unites two paths that crossed nearly 12 years ago. Mike Eichenberg, CEO of FreightSnap , recalled in an interview with T21 that his company was then developing a mobile application to record cargo information. Héctor Mora, founder and CEO of Grupo Cardinales , examined it as a potential tool for his operations. That initial contact didn’t immediately lead to the current agreement, but it did establish a relationship that has survived changes in both companies.

Grupo Cardinales grew from Manzanillo, where Mora had previously led the Integral Port Administration (API). His initial focus was tracking cargo after it left the port. This tracking evolved into monitoring, emergency response, and other technological applications for transportation . Eventually, this pursuit led him back to FreightSnap, now with a different question: besides knowing the cargo’s location and protecting it in transit, what information is available about its size and weight before it’s shipped?

“We understand logistics because we come from port logistics,” Mora also stated in an interview. For Eichenberg, that experience was a factor in choosing Grupo Cardinales as a partner in Mexico. FreightSnap needed a company capable of installing its systems , supporting users, and integrating the information obtained with their existing processes. The prior relationship between the two executives facilitated the agreement, but its commercial purpose also responds to a specific need.

According to Eichenberg, multinational clients using FreightSnap equipment in the United States are looking to implement similar processes in their Mexican distribution centers . “These clients want to implement the same automation in their Mexican distribution centers that they use in the United States,” he noted. To serve them, the manufacturer required a local presence; Grupo Cardinales, in turn, found a technology that expanded its work beyond cargo tracking and security.

The starting point is the pallets. Automated equipment records their dimensions and generates images ( a process that takes two seconds instead of six minutes when done manually) that can be linked to the shipment’s identification. If connected to a scale, it also records the weight. The result is a certified record that can be sent to the client’s administrative system and consulted when preparing a shipment, calculating space usage, or when a discrepancy arises regarding the merchandise data.

Among other certifications, the FreightSnap FS 5000 model is NTEP (National Type Evaluation Program) certified by the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) . This certification verifies that the model has passed a technical evaluation and meets applicable U.S. requirements for measuring equipment used in commercial transactions. Therefore, its measurements can serve as documented support when determining the dimensions of a load.

Mora believes this information is especially valuable for warehouses and carriers that bill based on volume or weight. A measurement smaller than the actual volume can translate into unused but unbilled space; a documented measurement allows for discrepancies to be reviewed with the client. “In this case, FreightSnap offers the assurance that the size of a pallet is being billed correctly,” he stated.

Héctor Mora recalled that he was familiar with the case of a company in Laredo, Texas. In their industrial facility, they measure an average of 300 pallets per day, and have managed to increase their weekly revenue by $25,000 to $40,000, thanks to improvements in pallet measurements.

The potential benefit, however, doesn’t end with the invoice. Knowing the dimensions of the received cargo helps in planning vessel occupancy and preparing a transport unit. Photographs provide a visual record of the cargo as it passes through the measuring point . For this data to be useful, it must reach those who allocate space, document shipments, and manage operations. Therefore, Grupo Cardinales proposes integrating the equipment with each user’s platforms, in addition to handling installation and support.

FreightSnap also develops solutions for parcels, conveyor belt measurement, and mobile data capture. Eichenberg explained that palletized cargo remains one of the company’s main applications, while Mora identified logistics warehouses as the market that has generated the most interest in this initial Mexican phase. Both agree that adoption will depend on demonstrating how the technology works within a real-world operation.

The alliance’s first facilities have already been established in Ciudad Juárez, according to Mora. From there, the plan is to consolidate service in Mexico and then expand to other Latin American countries. Colombia is among the markets they are considering, although Mora clarified that they have not yet begun sales in that country.

Regional expansion will be gradual. Before entering new markets, the company will have to demonstrate in Mexican warehouses that measuring a pallet yields more than just a number : reliable data that is incorporated into daily operations, allows for disputes over invoices with supporting evidence, and helps determine how to utilize available space. This is the challenge that reunited Mora and Eichenberg, more than a decade after their initial collaboration.

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El cargo Grupo Cardinales and FreightSnap: an alliance to measure cargo more accurately apareció primero en T21.