The Mexican Association of Freight Forwarders (Amacarga) has embarked on a new era with Eva Muñoz Pineda as president and Víctor Cruz as vice president. They have committed to consolidating and professionalizing the freight forwarder profession in Mexico.
With more than three decades of experience in the sector, Muñoz Pineda replaces Juan Pablo Pacheco and continues a management that, in his words, leaves Amacarga “in the top ten,” strengthened and visible like never before.
The new leadership will focus its work on the Logistics Integration project , with the goal of promoting legal and technical certification for freight forwarders , expanding training, fostering collaboration, and consolidating the association’s presence both nationally and internationally.
“We received a 10-point Amacarga. Our challenge is to make it a 10-plus. We have the great advantage that the team that worked with Juan Pablo is still with us, fully prepared to continue building what we’ve built,” Eva Muñoz told T21 .
In Mexico, the freight forwarder —also known as a freight agent —is responsible for coordinating and optimizing international shipments, acting as an intermediary between exporting or importing companies, carriers, shipping lines, and customs authorities.
Despite its indispensable role, it lacks specific legal recognition , which creates uncertainty and leaves room for informal practices.
In this regard, one of this administration’s priorities will be to achieve legal recognition of freight forwarders , so that they can no longer be, as Muñoz pointed out, “holograms” or invisible actors in foreign trade.
“As long as there is no legal framework that recognizes what we do, it is very difficult to access benefits, certifications, or support. Once we achieve this, we will be able to present ourselves to the authorities as a key link in the logistics chain,” he said.
The stated goal of this administration is for at least 30% of Amacarga members to obtain certification during Muñoz’s term.
This visibility will also be strategic in the face of new threats. As Cruz warned, with stricter policies such as the designation of certain criminal groups as terrorist organizations , any logistical contact could pose legal risks.
Therefore, they seek to have the freight forwarder recognized as a safe operator under international standards such as the AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification .
Another area of focus will be the certification of work competencies , both to strengthen associates’ internal capabilities and to provide them with tools that enable them to make better operational and strategic decisions.
“We want everyone to see freight forwarders as professionals who know what they’re doing. Training must be ongoing, part of our culture,” he noted.
Likewise, we will seek to expand and strengthen training programs , with an emphasis on serving micro and small businesses , many of which lack access to specialized technology or infrastructure.
Technology will be another priority. Amacarga acknowledged that technological adoption is a crucial competitive advantage. Platforms such as ValidaCarga (which allows for the electronic transmission of bills and manifests) and the use of specialized logistics software are being promoted among partners.
“Although some still work with Excel spreadsheets, most already have basic tools for digital operations. The challenge is to migrate to a more professional, secure, and interoperable environment,” commented Víctor Cruz.
In partnership with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations (FIATA) , the association is also working on implementing the electronic bill of lading (e-BL) , which will eliminate paper documents, reduce fraud, and accelerate the traceability of operations .
“It’s not about technology for the sake of fashion. We do it because the future of foreign trade demands digitalization. And we want our partners to be prepared to compete globally,” said Eva Muñoz.
Both Muñoz and Cruz agreed that Logistics Integration is a collective project that seeks to strengthen ties between freight forwarders and foster collaboration to address current challenges in foreign trade, from regulatory uncertainty to international volatility.
“The freight forwarder is at the heart of our work. We want to professionalize them, legally recognize them, and provide them with the tools to grow. It’s not about what Eva wants, but what the industry needs to strengthen itself,” said the president.
More than a personal agenda, Eva Muñoz and Víctor Cruz consider this project as the continuation of a collective effort , which has been maturing in recent years and which today finds favorable conditions for a qualitative leap forward.
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