Tijuana, BC. – With the goal of recognizing and dignifying the work of freight transport operators in Mexico, and after two days of competition, MT Noroeste Tijuana selected the best drivers in the region.
In its 2024 edition, the most important fifth-wheel tractor-trailer maneuvering competition in the country reaffirmed the significance of the operators’ work in an event that has become essential not only for the freight transport sector but also for society.
In its third edition, MT Noroeste Tijuana awarded nine operators who demonstrated their best driving skills in the Sleeper Cab, Full, and Cab Over categories. The winners were selected from nearly a hundred contestants who competed over the weekend at the Caliente Stadium of the Tijuana Xolos. It is worth noting that the 2024 edition of the maneuvering competition featured the participation of seven female operators.
Winners:
Sleeper Cab Category
– First place: Jesús Adrián Espinoza, Frutas y Verduras San Miguel
– Second place: Carlos Alberto Galindo, TransMex
– Third place: Gildarlo Suárez, JL Express
Full Category
– First place: Johan Guzmán, Transportes de Carga Santa Lucía
– Second place: Jaime Barraza, Transportes de Carga Santa Lucía
– Third place: Valentín Rocha, LG Translog
Cab Over Category
– First place: Julio César Estrada, Transportes de Carga Santa Lucía
– Second place: Omar Lara, Intransport Trucking Inc.
– Third place: Adán Ferrer Reyes, Transportes de Carga Santa Lucía
Israel Delgado, vice president of the Northwest region of the National Chamber of Freight Transport (Canacar), explained in an interview with T21 that due to the success of the maneuvering competition, it will be expanded to other locations in the country. Jalisco and Veracruz are the states that have expressed interest in hosting the event so far, although he emphasized that this will depend on the capacity and feasibility of organizing it.
“What we have seen this weekend leaves us satisfied because we broke attendance records in a family-friendly atmosphere of unity within the transport community. We achieved our goal of establishing MT Noroeste Tijuana as a transport festival. Our future goal is to continue strengthening the competition and adding elements that enhance it,” stated Delgado.
The representative of the transporters in the region shared that for Canacar, it is essential to support these types of events because they help dignify the operators and promote better coexistence with freight transport.
“MT represents something that the sector needs, which is unity. But when we talk about unity, we are not just referring to business owners, but to all the stakeholders involved, from equipment suppliers, spare parts, and components, because without efficient supply, transporters cannot move forward. At the same time, it is necessary for transporters to be applying the best practices, but we need operators to understand the responsibility of their work and the importance of being prepared.
Today, in many parts of the world, society views operators as road heroes, but in Mexico, there is much work to be done for us to perceive them this way. “I am convinced that a large part of the responsibility for this change lies with the entire industry. We must make progress on issues of ethics, professionalization, and above all, road safety,” Delgado detailed.
Finally, the vice president of the Northwest region of Canacar invited the country’s transporters to continue strengthening the industry based on unity and collaborative work. “From here, we send our greetings to all the transporters in the country, and at the same time, I would like to tell them that it is possible to improve things, but we have to do it with participation, with actions, and proposals,” he affirmed.
With information from Jennifer Galindo and Elizabeth Díaz
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