The shortage and retention of drivers continues to be one of the main challenges for freight transport, a problem that not only affects Mexico, but is repeated in different markets, said Luis Legorreta, partner and general director of Transportes VIM , a company that recently joined Grupo MexAmerik (number 32 of the Top 100 of Autotransport® ).
The challenge could intensify in the coming years. According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , Mexico faces a shortage of approximately 99,000 freight operators and anticipates that the shortage will continue to worsen due to the aging workforce and the difficulty in attracting new operators to the sector.
In that context, Legorreta pointed out that, in addition to the availability of personnel, companies face the challenge of remaining competitive by incorporating new technologies and renewing their fleets, since those that delay these investments run the risk of falling behind the rest of the industry.
The executive considered that having units equipped with the latest technology represents an advantage for companies , both for their operational efficiency and for the attractiveness they can generate among operators.
“Having these trucks with this type of new technology is a competitive advantage against many other companies that don’t have a fleet renewal plan, aren’t looking to innovate in technology, or are starting to fall behind,” he said.
In the case of VIM, he explained that the strategy to face this scenario is based on strengthening training and consolidating an organizational culture that promotes a sense of belonging among employees.
He added that this effort starts from the company’s management and seeks to involve the entire team as part of the same project.
It is worth remembering that with the integration of VIM, Grupo MexAmerik incorporated four divisions focused on specialized cargo, refrigerated transport, containers and construction, expanding its service offering and the industries it can serve.
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