“Worry about what you can control” is the premise that defines the resilience with which logistics leaders have navigated the uncertainty generated by the current situation, marked by geopolitical changes and protectionist measures in global trade , which, far from stopping the flow of goods, have reconfigured supply chains towards a regionalization model
In the panel “The Art of Leading in the Storm of Uncertainty ,” within the framework of “The 100+ Influential Figures in Transportation and Logistics ,” specialists pointed out that Mexico has overcome tariff uncertainty by becoming the largest supplier to the United States.
In December 2025 alone, Mexico consolidated its position as the main trading partner of its northern neighbor, registering an exchange of goods worth 70.521 billion dollars , according to data from the United States Census Bureau .
Given this scenario, the panelists agreed that dependence on Asia must be reduced, taking advantage of the geographical proximity to the United States and the capacity of Mexican manufacturing to strengthen the North American bloc , especially in the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) .
Innovation and agility: facing uncertainty in maritime transport
In that context, Diana Cadena , commercial manager of Hutchison Ports ICAVE , and Víctor Monroy , general manager for Mexico and Central America of MSC , spoke from their experience in the maritime sector, highlighting the importance of innovation and agility in port operations.
Cadena cited Bahía Norte in Veracruz as an example of innovation, noting that it was the first joint venture between a port authority and a private company in Mexico. “Without this vision, this joint venture, the port of Veracruz wouldn’t be able to receive the ships it does today. Proof of this is that in January of this year we received the largest ship to ever enter the port, measuring 350 meters in length,” he explained.
He explained that port infrastructure has demonstrated that innovation is the engine of profitability and recalled that the Veracruz terminal went from handling 70,000 TEUs (20-foot containers) in 1995 to more than one million TEUs annually today, attributed to an operational discipline that integrates sustainable technologies, such as electric cranes and automated systems, to compete in the global market.
He also considered that the cost of logistics must be understood, since a plant shutdown or disruption can generate large economic losses
Monroy emphasized that uncertainty is a factor that is always present in logistics and other areas, such as politics, and that the best way to counteract it is for shipping companies to be flexible and agile in responding to the needs of the sector.
“We need to be able to respond quickly to the new needs that a market generates. Despite all the geopolitical issues of last year, despite the issue of tariffs, world trade did not stop, it did not stall, it even grew,” Monroy emphasized.
He said that when flows from Asia to the United States slowed considerably, those flows began to migrate to other markets, “and we were able to mobilize our fleet, so that those markets that needed that support were served in an agile and rapid manner.”
The railway sector and its opening to other markets
In the railway sector, uncertainty has worked in its favor, as it has opened up new niches and shifted from a globalized approach to one focused on regions.
Oscar Del Cueto , president of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) of Mexico , stated that the railroad presented an opportunity for new markets, such as the one from Canada to Mexico.
“Today we are creating this ‘ land bridge ,’ as we call it. We transport products from Canada across the United States, they pay us tariffs, they pay us taxes, and we reach a new market that didn’t exist in Mexico and where there is demand. We are talking about grain, wheat that we are bringing from Canada to the Mexican market, passing through the United States without any problem, because we have this connectivity network,” he explained.
Other products include LP gas and plastics. We are also shipping household appliances made in our country via rail. The automotive market, where we already had some shipments from Mexico to Canada, has now grown. So, I think there are opportunities. This is the world we live in; there is a lot of uncertainty, but I believe it also presents us with opportunities.
He emphasized that the railroad is entering markets traditionally dominated by trucking, such as refrigerated goods , by leveraging the network that connects the three USMCA countries. The goal is to make the border between Mexico and the United States as efficient as the one between the US and Canada.
He asserted that to overcome uncertainty, one must focus on what can be controlled to strengthen the North American bloc.
“Worry about what you can control, don’t worry about what you can’t control. There’s a lot out there that we can’t control, but there are things that we can. The flows don’t stop; what can change are the markets,” he pointed out.
Road transport, with structural challenges
According to the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (ANPACT) , more than 80% of the goods that move in Mexico travel by road, making road transport the backbone of the national economy.
In that context, Raúl Monroy , president of Grupo TMS (Transportes Monroy Schiavon) – number 12 in the Top 100 of Motor Transport® – considered that, although motor transport is a key factor for products to reach their destination efficiently and safely, this sector faces critical structural challenges to absorb regional growth.
In that regard, he warned that there is a limited road infrastructure , which is compounded by a shortage of operators, which could hinder economic development.
According to the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , Mexico has a shortage of more than 90,000 operators —which keeps the same number of tractor-trailers idle—a situation that could worsen in the coming years, since if the trend continues, by 2028 the figure could exceed 110,000 operators.
He warned that another problem in the sector is the constant disruptions at toll booths, which increase transit times by 20 to 25 percent. These “hidden costs” reduce operator productivity and the utilization of equipment.
Monroy also pointed out that regionalization represents a great opportunity for transportation in Mexico. “The United States and Canada are our main trading partners, and Mexico has now become the United States’ main trading partner, so this will inevitably impact us with more movement, new challenges, and more routes.”
For his part, Jorge Machuca , leader of the Latin American Engine Segment at Cummins , stressed the importance of constant dialogue with the federal government to resolve critical infrastructure problems, such as the saturation of Highway 57 – which runs through much of Mexico, from the border with the United States in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, to Mexico City – and to define a path towards decarbonization.
In this edition of The 100+ Most Influential People in Transportation and Logistics , the message was clear. Leaders in the logistics sector agreed that supply chains must transition from reactive to predictive and forward-looking management models, with supply chains becoming increasingly regionalized, in a clear effort to strengthen and boost the North American bloc.
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