Stopping a truck to prevent it from crossing the state of Puebla at night has become part of the protocol because insecurity is no longer just a fact, it is a daily operational decision, as stated by representatives of Overhaul and the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) , during the presentation of the cargo theft report corresponding to the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25).
Highway robbery has had a direct impact on the shortage of operators. This was one of the main warnings expressed by Diego Anchustegui, president of AMTI, when explaining the situation facing the logistics sector in Mexico.
“We live it every day,” said Anchustegui, explaining that many fleets are currently operating at only 60% to 80% of their capacity due to a lack of personnel.
The crisis isn’t just about security. There are other equally serious problems, such as overcrowded infrastructure, poor roads, complex customs processes, lack of connectivity , and a fleet with an average age of 20 years .
“If the average fleet is 20 years old, we have 40- or 50-year-old trucks on the road,” he warned.
But rather than dwelling on the problems, Anchustegui proposed discussing solutions. In his view, technology, investment in infrastructure, and the promotion of intermodal transportation can bring about a fundamental change in the Mexican logistics system.
Intermodal transport (which combines different modes of transport such as rail, road transport, or sea) allows for the movement of goods in a more economical, safe, and sustainable manner.
According to the president of AMTI, it can be up to 25% or 30% cheaper than conventional trucking for distances greater than 500 kilometers (km). Furthermore, it has a theft rate of just 0.5% on several routes .
“What intermodal does is allow you to use rail without having to invest in infrastructure like a spur within your facilities,” he explained. He added that this modality makes it easy to use for any industry or type of merchandise.
In Mexico, this model is growing across three segments: maritime (connecting ports like Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, and Veracruz with the interior), crossborder (Mexico, the United States, and Canada), and domestic (within the country, on routes like Chihuahua-Monterrey or Baja California-Mexico City), he emphasized.
Railway safety: lower risk, but still with red flags
Although intermodal transport proves to be safer than road transport, train robberies still occur , especially when organized crime manages to stop trains at vulnerable points to open containers and steal merchandise. “It’s not like they used to be, when they opened them like bottle caps, but it still happens,” Anchustegui acknowledged.
The solution isn’t just about providing protection; it also involves measuring data , identifying the areas with the highest incidence, and working hand in hand with authorities.
“Many companies are investing in cameras; at first, it’s a challenge to introduce them to operators, but we’re moving in that direction, just as GPS systems did in the 2000s,” he noted.
One of the main benefits of intermodal is that it allows for better utilization of available carriers . Instead of assigning one carrier to a single long trip, such as Mexico–Tijuana, the intermodal model allows one carrier to make several short trips per day, he emphasized.
In addition, it has positive impacts on infrastructure, reduces highway congestion, and eases traffic congestion in regions like Querétaro and Tlaxcala, where travel times have doubled.
Anchustegui also highlighted the environmental value of the model, as rail can be up to 75% more environmentally friendly than trucking.
Projects such as the Maya Train and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Corridor will open new routes, especially in southeastern Mexico, with the possibility of connecting to Central America as well.
“Intermodal transportation is growing. We see routes like Mexico City–Guadalajara and Chihuahua with great potential. We still have a long way to go, but we’re on the right track,” he emphasized.
He also highlighted that the railway sector is listening more to customers and offering personalized services, something that was unthinkable a few years ago.
AMTI, which brings together more than 60 partners (including shipping companies, terminals, integrators, trucking companies, and railroads), will continue to promote this model, because Mexico’s logistics challenge will not be solved with more trucks, but with more alternatives, collaboration, and a long-term vision , he concluded.
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