May 30th marked the end of an era immersed in transportation, most recently in intermodal transportation, but it also marked the beginning of new plans, of concretizing projects, of starting a new chapter. Eduardo Asperó Zanella left the position of vice president for Mexico at Hub Group , a US logistics solutions provider, but decided to start his own consulting firm.
With the help of a partner and his son, this new company is embarking on an independent start-up. In the coming months, it will focus on finding clients and specialized personnel in ports and maritime transport, engineering, and other fields to provide a more comprehensive service. Nothing is far removed from its passion for the railway sector.
“It was time to dedicate myself to something more personal, no longer bound by corporate schedules. Diversifying my activities isn’t the same as working with a single company and suddenly seeing two completely different specific cases. It’s very stimulating. I don’t plan to step away and will continue to be active, but with projects that excite me and have a deadline; something that allows me to do what I love,” he emphasized.
It was in February of this year that he accumulated 45 years of experience . He began in 1980 in the area of International, Port, and Maritime Affairs at the then Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SCT).
However, he stated that there are three key moments that have marked his career. He was involved in the incorporation of private companies into ports . “I was involved in that whole process, transforming operations from state-owned companies to private ones. It was an incredible learning experience in the port business.”
Another stage that marked him was the privatization of the Mexican railway sector , “it was very interesting to see this whole operation,” but also the development of intermodal transport in the country .
“I joined Pacer in 2000, operating in five intermodal terminals, and after 15 years, we were operating in 11, some of which were privately owned by automotive companies. That process went from intermodal, with restrictions, simple terminals, with a primitive layout, to one with developed, specialized terminals, owned by new operators. It was a great experience; I had the opportunity to participate in depth,” he recalled.
Hub Group began operations in 2015, with a more developed intermodal transportation landscape and several players. “The challenge was to professionalize all services and expand into the automotive sector,” he emphasized.
“It’s been very interesting to have participated in this entire evolution. The ports’ evolution was spectacular; the railroads’ evolution is unsurprising, and intermodal transportation still needs to be developed. But we already have a position with multiple specialized service providers, alliances from Canada to Mexico, and competition in every sense. That is the foundation for development,” he indicated.
However, his arrival to the intermodal sector was with Ferrosur , with a service between Veracruz and Pantaco, the so-called “VIP”. Later, a company was looking for someone with knowledge in this segment, but also in railways and who had a relationship with the government. With them, his arrival to the private sector began.
In his opinion, for intermodal transport to “explode,” it is necessary to have institutional facilitation schemes , a good customs system that allows for this transport by sea, greater incorporation of railroads in the maritime segment, expanded cross-border services , and an intermodal terminal in the south of the country, to name a few.
At the end of last year, a strategic joint venture between EASO and Hub Group was announced to expand their intermodal and logistics services in the region. While it wasn’t the final straw, it was the beginning of a long career in the Mexican rail and intermodal sector.
Eduardo Asperó was part of Grupo T21’s Top 100+ Influential People in Transport and Logistics for the past few years .
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