The complexity of land transportation in North America cannot be explained solely by cargo flows. Tariffs, customs requirements, insecurity, and congestion at key hubs have transformed cross-border operations into a risk management exercise, where every decision impacts timelines, costs, and business relationships.
From an operational perspective, Claudia Serano, Senior Sales at Traffix , explained that the impact of this environment has been widespread for all companies operating land transport in Mexico , regardless of whether it involves domestic freight, last-mile delivery, or border crossings. Regulatory and customs pressures, coupled with a shrinking market, have forced companies to rethink priorities and strategies to sustain operations.
In that context, the focus shifted to nurturing existing relationships. Serano noted that, faced with an aggressive market, the strategy is to protect current clients while maintaining a balanced relationship with transportation providers, recognizing that carriers today are also selective about who they work with.
This logic is reflected in the way the company structures its ground transportation operations in the region. Traffix, a Canadian company founded in 1979 , operates ground transportation services in North America with a hybrid model: its own fleet in Canada and a network of transportation partners in Mexico and the United States. According to Serrano, this approach makes the development, evaluation, and compliance with standards by suppliers crucial, especially in an environment where capacity is limited and operational risk is constant.
The selection of these partners is not accidental. Serano explained that there is an internal process focused on procurement and compliance , which includes requirements such as certifications, legal and tax compliance, as well as minimum fleet capacities. These criteria aim to reduce risks in an environment where ground operations face increasingly uncontrollable variables .
Beyond the operational structure, one of the daily challenges lies in incident management. Accidents, thefts, border crossing delays, overnight stays, or extended stays are all part of the daily reality of land transport. Faced with these scenarios, Serano emphasized the importance of clear communication, presenting the full picture, and explaining potential additional costs, while avoiding unnecessary alarm.
Security has emerged as one of the main bottlenecks in Mexico . Serrano acknowledged that some routes, due to their level of risk, simply cease to be viable, regardless of demand. This is compounded by infrastructure challenges and port congestion, particularly in Pacific corridors, where additional costs and operational uncertainty discourage suppliers.
The result is a more cautious market , with clients seeking to reduce costs in a context where operating expenses continue to rise. For Serano, this disconnect between expectations and operational reality is one of the sector’s major challenges in 2025, a year he describes as particularly challenging for land-based logistics.
In this context, cross-border operations demand increasingly precise decisions. It’s not just about moving cargo between countries, but about doing so under changing conditions, with tight margins, and a supply chain that only survives if each link understands the context in which it operates.
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