Driver training has become one of the most important areas of focus for the trucking industry , in an environment where labor shortages are already limiting operations nationwide. In Mexico, the deficit is around 99,000 drivers , which directly impacts the sector’s operational capacity.

More than 90,000 trucks remain idle due to a lack of drivers, according to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) . In this context, training has ceased to be a supplement and has become an operational strategy: it not only attracts and retains talent, but also improves truck performance and reduces costs associated with breakdowns and corrective maintenance.

From Tamaulipas , the Nuevo Laredo Freight Carriers Association (ATC) has focused part of its efforts on addressing this need through training programs, while, in parallel, the foundation linked to the organization promotes training programs for operators and young people interested in joining the sector, according to Pedro Lozano, president of the ATC, and with initiatives led by Yvette Bazán at the head of the foundation .

One of the main challenges identified is the preparation of operators in key skills for international operations , particularly in the use of the English language, necessary for their interaction at crossings into the United States .

To address this need, the association is working on developing technological tools that facilitate the continuous learning of operators, including solutions based on applications with artificial intelligence geared towards practicing the language in real-world contexts, Lozano explained.

At the same time, the foundation linked to the ATC has consolidated a support model focused on training new generations. Through resources obtained at industry events, scholarships are channeled to operators and young people interested in joining the industry, with the aim of strengthening the trucking workforce .

In addition to training, the association also promotes exchange spaces between companies to share best practices in operational and management issues, with the intention of raising the professional level of the sector as a whole.

This approach seeks to address one of the structural challenges of the trucking industry: the availability of trained operators in an increasingly demanding environment in terms of operation, safety and compliance.

In this context, the commitment to training not only responds to an immediate need, but also to building more sustainable conditions for the long-term development of the sector.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Karina Quintero  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo ATC promotes operator training from Mexico’s northern border apareció primero en T21.

The freight transport sector on Mexico’s northern border faces increasing pressure to sustain its operations, in a context where costs continue to rise, volumes are not recovering, and rates remain suppressed.

In Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, this scenario takes on greater relevance: through this area approximately 42% of the country’s land trade moves , making it a key point to measure the behavior of the sector, according to Pedro Lozano, president of the Nuevo Laredo Freight Carriers Association (ATC) .

In that  city , this operational weight is also reflected in the border crossings. In 2025 alone, this point registered 2.28 million truck crossings into the United States , maintaining its position as the country’s main land port in terms of volume, according to the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) .

In this sense, the profitability of the operation has been pressured by factors such as the increase in fuel, the rise in labor costs and an exchange rate that reduces income in pesos for operations agreed in dollars, as Lozano explained in an interview with T21.

Added to this is the impact of tariffs, which reduced cargo volumes and intensified competition between companies, creating a market where rates have not been able to adjust at the same pace, he warned.

The sector’s main immediate challenge is to regain profitability . Over the past few months, carriers absorbed these increases without fully passing them on to their customers, which is now resulting in a loss of liquidity, Lozano pointed out.

Although volumes are beginning to show signs of recovery, the next step will be to renegotiate rates in an environment where customers are still pushing prices down, he anticipated.

Despite trade uncertainty , regional integration remains strong. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will continue to be the foundation of trade, given that much of Mexico’s production is linked to U.S. companies, Lozano explained.

In that context, the continuity of the treaty is seen as a factor of stability for the flow of goods.

Operation, infrastructure and reviews

At the same time, the operation faces structural challenges . Some sections of highway are beginning to become congested, while toll booths and toll systems are showing deficiencies that affect traffic efficiency, he emphasized.

Added to this are the times spent at checkpoints , where vehicles can remain for up to eight hours, which directly impacts productivity. The sector’s proposal aims to migrate towards more streamlined inspections using non-intrusive technology, Lozano explained.

Security: Pressure from the North

Although northern Mexico maintains relatively stable conditions, the rest of the country presents a different scenario.

In other regions , the theft of vehicles and operational restrictions have forced changes to routes, schedules, and even logistical costs, Lozano said.

In this environment, the pressure is not only on costs, but also on the actual ability to pass them on to the market. The combination of lower production volume and increased competition has created a dynamic in which customers keep prices down, arguing that there is always someone willing to offer a lower price.

“It’s a price war and many don’t realize the costs,” the specialist warned.

The impact is significant. Due to the exchange rate alone, companies have seen reductions of nearly 20% in their revenue in pesos , while the increase in the integrated daily wage has raised social costs, Lozano explained.

Added to this is the impact of fuel . According to industry calculations, for every peso increase in diesel, fares should have been adjusted by around 4%; however, most carriers only managed to achieve partial increases.

“We should have raised our prices by 20%; I assure you that 80% of the transporters did not raise them by that amount,” he said.

The result is direct pressure on liquidity. The trucking industry requires immediate payments, while revenues don’t always keep pace.

“We can’t do free freight, our equipment is valuable and our operation is valuable,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the sector is beginning to see signs of recovery in demand. Customs indicators show gradual increases in cargo volumes, which could open the door to a new phase of tariff negotiations, he explained.

However, this process will not be easy. Renegotiating with clients is anticipated to be one of the biggest points of contention in the short term, in an environment where carriers will be looking to recover some of their lost profit margin.

On the country’s northern border, where the movement of goods never stops, the adjustment will not be immediate or uniform. The recovery in volume is only just beginning to emerge, but this doesn’t necessarily translate into better conditions for carriers.

The challenge now is not just to move more cargo, but to make each trip profitable again in a market that has become accustomed to operating with pressured rates.

“Now we have to renegotiate rates,” Lozano summarized.

Because at the country’s main crossroads, where the pulse of foreign trade is measured, the balance of road transport depends not only on the flow of goods, but also on the sector’s ability to sustain its operation in an increasingly demanding environment.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Karina Quintero  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Trucking industry seeks to regain profitability on Mexico’s northern border: ATC apareció primero en T21.

In its 2026 edition, the Truck Challenge features some operational changes, but maintains its objective of supporting the trucking industry and developing talent for the Nuevo Laredo region. The Truck Challenge is an event organized by the Nuevo Laredo Freight Carriers Association (ATC).

During the presentation of the Truck Challenge 2026, which will be held on April 25, it was announced that in order to make the event more agile, this time it will be a single day of participation, where the operators participating in the Sleeper Cab and Day Cab categories will compete.

In its 5th edition, Truck Challenge will feature 34 participants in each category, and according to Mario Salas, ATC manager and competition director, this will encourage companies to select their most experienced drivers for the competition. The winners of the 4th edition have already secured a spot at the festival.

In 2026, the Truck Challenge will be held at the Nuevo Laredo Sports City, which, according to the organizers, will allow for a new track layout, thus imposing a new challenge on the operators who have participated in previous editions.

From the perspective of Carlos Fernández, general vice president of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar), he acknowledged that any event aimed at reducing the shortage of operators is very beneficial for this industry, and therefore for society, economic development, and opportunities for the entire sector.

Fernández highlighted the nature of the event’s support for the operator, where donations are made through the ATC to support young people in various educational institutions.

Yvette Bazán, a member of ATC, commented that through the foundation of this organization, 300 operators have been supported, while 26 young people have received scholarships , and in this new generation there will be 10 additional young people.

The first three places in each of the two categories will be awarded a prize of 200,000 pesos, with 50,000 going to the first places, 30,000 to the second places, and 20,000 to the third places.

Pedro Lozano, president of ATC and delegate of Canacar in NLD, highlighted the interest shown by the competition, which has various spaces for interaction, where the objective is to pay tribute to the operators, who in their daily activity become heroes of the road.

To stay up to date on event information or to register competitors, visit www.truckchallenge.mx

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El cargo ATC and Truck Challenge team up to boost the trucking industry apareció primero en T21.

Carlos Fernández Martínez , outgoing president and founder of the ATC, presented a summary of the activities carried out since 2021 (the year in which the organization was created and he assumed the presidency) , including the consolidation of the association and the connection with authorities and organizations in the sector.

Yvette Bazán, president of the ATC Foundation, spoke about the educational support the organization has provided through scholarships for young people in the region.

As the new president, Pedro Lozano Martínez outlined the strategic pillars that will guide his administration: representation, training, regional competitiveness, and community collaboration.

The event was attended by state, municipal, and federal authorities, consular representatives, business chambers, and representatives from the education sector. Attendees included Héctor Hinojosa , local delegate of the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) , as well as representatives from organizations such as Index , Coparmex , Canaco , Canacintra , and Codein .

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El cargo Change of presidency at the Nuevo Laredo Freight Transporters Association apareció primero en T21.

Carlos Fernández Martínez , outgoing president and founder of the ATC, presented a summary of the activities carried out since 2021 (the year in which the organization was created and he assumed the presidency) , including the consolidation of the association and the connection with authorities and organizations in the sector.

Yvette Bazán, president of the ATC Foundation, spoke about the educational support the organization has provided through scholarships for young people in the region.

As the new president, Pedro Lozano Martínez outlined the strategic pillars that will guide his administration: representation, training, regional competitiveness, and community collaboration.

The event was attended by state, municipal, and federal authorities, consular representatives, business chambers, and representatives from the education sector. Attendees included Héctor Hinojosa , local delegate of the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) , as well as representatives from organizations such as Index , Coparmex , Canaco , Canacintra , and Codein .

Comment and follow us on X:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Change of presidency at the Nuevo Laredo Freight Transporters Association apareció primero en T21.

After several weeks of increased traffic congestion on the Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo highway caused by maintenance work on the road, transporters in the area traveled to Mexico City to speak directly with a group of senators who listened to their requests and provided a solution, at least for now, to the problem posed by the works .

The commission of transporters headed by Héctor Hinojosa, delegate of the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) in Nuevo Laredo, was attended by the senator for the state of Chihuahua, Juan Carlos Loera De La Rosa, after the various meetings that took place between representatives of the Association of Cargo Transporters (ATC) , Caintra , the Association of Customs Agents of Nuevo Laredo (AAADNL) , among other organizations, to make a common front and reach a resolution.

The strategy outlined to speed up both exports and imports was the creation of two lanes in both directions , which doubles the traffic capacity and therefore significantly reduces travel times, Hinojosa said.

“This type of construction has been going on for about two years, and that is what is worrying, but nothing was really done until we saw a real crisis in transfer times. As transporters, we got used to the long lines that sometimes forced us to spend up to six hours in traffic, a situation that was already unsustainable, especially because of the delivery windows that we had to meet and were not being met,” explained Juan Carlos Varela, director of the Transport Division in Palos Garza, in an interview.

The recent dialogue between representatives of the freight transport industry and the group of senators opens up the possibility of replicating this type of exercise to inaugurate a new stage of communication with the authorities, so that the genuine demands of the sector are met without resorting to extreme measures, as has been seen in the center of the country, with blockades or taking over toll booths.

” This exercise will help us in future critical situations to have a joint reaction between the agencies and the authorities, because this is a team effort,” said Varela.

Comment and follow us on X:@Liznomas / @GrupoT21

El cargo Transporters engage in dialogue with senators to expedite traffic on the Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo highway apareció primero en T21.