Amid a system plagued by backlogs in administrative procedures and constant pressure from a shortage of operators, the issuance of licenses has become a critical issue for the trucking industry . Between January and September 2025 alone, the Federal Directorate General of Motor Transport (DGAF) issued 149,959 licenses, highlighting the volume of paperwork the authority faces and the ongoing pressure on its administrative processes.
Although on paper the procedures should flow normally, in practice the process continues to face obstacles that go beyond the administrative burden.
From the industry’s perspective, the delays are not always due to the volume of work. Eucario Reyes, president of the National Association of Representation in the Trucking Industry (ANRA) , has pointed out that the lack of signatures on files means that only some procedures move forward, while others remain stalled indefinitely, a practice that, he stated, has been observed since the current administration took over.
“They only sign some files, which we all believe and think is because they receive a bribe. That has been seen,” he stressed.
Regarding license plates, Eucario Reyes explained that the problem isn’t the lack of the process itself, but rather the accumulated administrative delays . He noted that there are currently no plates available because their production was postponed and delivery delayed until the end of January, after the process was transferred to Talleres Gráficos de México (Mexico ‘s printing company) instead of the supplier who had previously won the bid. This situation, he pointed out, has created a new waiting period for operators and companies that depend on these documents to put vehicles on the road.
These types of bottlenecks directly impact operators and companies . The inability to release licenses on time hinders the entry of new operators, exacerbates staff shortages, and, in the case of women, reinforces an additional barrier in a sector where their presence is minimal.
Of the total licenses issued in the first nine months of 2025, 86,591 corresponded to national services and 63,368 to international services, reflecting not only the magnitude of the system, but also the growing demand for operators authorized for longer-range routes.
Even with that volume, the DGAF records confirm that, although incidents in the procedures decreased during September 2024, the underlying problems did not disappear.
That month saw 384 incidents , with a gradual reduction week by week, from 145 cases in the first few days to 66 by the end. The drop in numbers does not necessarily mean that processes have returned to normal, but rather that cases are progressing unevenly or are stalled without resolution .
This administrative weakness becomes more evident when examining who manages to obtain a license. As of September 2025 , the DGAF reported 6,949 valid licenses issued to women nationwide. Although 77.3% correspond to freight services and 22.7% to passenger and tourism services, their share within the total remains marginal: barely 0.9% nationwide .
While indicators show fewer incidents , the system still fails to guarantee certainty regarding processing times or the release of paperwork. In a sector pressured by a shortage of operators, each stalled license is not just another file, but a unit that remains idle, a route that goes uncovered, and an opportunity that is lost.
The reduction in incidents may offer some statistical relief, but it doesn’t solve the core problem. Without clear processes, timely signatures, and consistent rules, the issuance of licenses will remain a bottleneck that limits the growth of the trucking industry and keeps people, especially women, out of a sector that needs to grow, not stagnate.
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