The review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , highway insecurity, and the urgent need to renew a fleet with an average age of 19 years set the tone for the 2026 Ordinary General Assembly of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) .

During the ceremony, the 2026-2027 National Board of Directors was sworn in , headed by Augusto Ramos Melo, who assumed the national presidency of the organization, replacing Miguel Ángel Martínez Millán. In his first address as president, Ramos highlighted the sector’s economic importance: more than 200,000 companies and the movement of over 80% of the country’s land freight.

He emphasized that the review of the USMCA, which will take place next July, will be a key moment for the trucking industry , and stated that Canacar will maintain close contact with authorities and legislators to defend the sector’s competitiveness.

Among the initial commitments, he announced a 100-day work plan , with monthly progress reports, and the goal of promoting 50 new safe rest stops during this year, a measure directly linked to the safety of the operators.

Security and infrastructure at the heart of the debate

Security was one of the most frequently reiterated themes by legislators and federal authorities. From the Chamber of Deputies , Víctor Manuel Pérez Díaz, president of the Communications and Transportation Committee, emphasized that cargo theft is a direct threat to competitiveness and the safety of drivers.

According to the analysis Mexico: Annual Report 2025 on cargo theft , carried out by  Overhaul , during the past year, cargo theft in Mexico showed a greater geographical dispersion, although it was concentrated in the most industrialized regions, with the center (51%) and the Bajío (31%) being the areas that registered the highest incidence, with 82 percent.

At the same time, the importance of modernizing the fleet was emphasized in the context of the USMCA review and the challenges of regional competitiveness.

Institutional coordination was another key message during the assembly, aimed at strengthening the road transport sector, which will require concrete actions in infrastructure, security, and administrative modernization.

In that regard, the Undersecretary of Communications and Transportation, Tania Carro Toledo, highlighted that progress is being made in “the conservation and modernization of highway infrastructure, the strengthening of public road safety on the federal highway network, the promotion of the construction of comprehensive rest stops, and the incorporation of new technologies for the simplification and digitization of procedures.”

Augusto Ramos also mentioned the shortage of 90,000 operators in the country and indicated that he would seek specific treatment for the operators’ work schedule, arguing that it cannot be equated with other sectors. He also ruled out the possibility of the new administration resorting to strikes or blockades as a pressure tactic, prioritizing instead ongoing working groups with authorities.

Institutional presence and regional vision

The assembly included the participation of federal legislators, representatives from the National Guard , the Ministry of Economy , and business organizations. On the economic and trade front, Juan Carlos Baker, CEO of Ansley International Consultants , also participated, providing insights into the international environment and the scenarios Mexico will face within the framework of the North American trade agreement review.

He warned that the USMCA will be key to the country’s logistical competitiveness and highlighted that foreign trade has been the main support of the national economy in recent years.

In January 2026 alone, Mexican exports totaled 48 billion 008 million dollars (mdd) , which meant an increase of 8.1% compared to the same month of 2025, according to the  National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .

Baker noted that, despite global volatility and tariff tensions in the US political arena, trade between Mexico and the United States continues to grow, which necessitates strengthening infrastructure, legal certainty, and operational efficiency.

In December 2025, Mexico consolidated its position as the main trading partner of its northern neighbor, registering an exchange of goods worth 70 billion 521 million dollars , according to data from the  United States Census Bureau .

The institutional message was consistent: freight transport is a structural pillar of the Mexican economy . “Without freight transport, there is no economy worth having,” stated Alejandro Malagón Barragán, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , emphasizing that the sector moves more than 80% of the country’s land freight.

The day also included a tour of “Expo Canacar” , a space in which brands associated with the chamber and companies supplying the sector participated.

Later, already as acting president, Augusto Ramos toured the exhibition area, talking with business partners and representatives of the various brands present, in a sign of institutional continuity and closeness with the sector’s value chain .

With an agenda that combines security, infrastructure, professionalization, vehicle renewal and institutional strengthening, Canacar begins a new stage under the leadership of Augusto Ramos, with the immediate challenge of translating its motto into actions that deliver results for a sector that moves more than eight out of every 10 goods in the country.

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El cargo Augusto Ramos is sworn in as president of Canacar; security and USMCA set the agenda apareció primero en T21.

After more than two decades without an electoral process in the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , and where the president of the organization had been chosen under the figure of the unity candidate, this February 13th the votes will be held to designate the next leader of the institution.

In the electoral process taking place in Canacar to elect the organization’s 14th president, to succeed Miguel Ángel Martínez Millán, Ramiro Montemayor of Transportes Mon-Ro and Augusto Ramos of Grupo RAME are competing ; and it should be remembered that the latter was joined by the former candidate, Rómulo Mejía , of Transportes Romedu.

In this context, Alfredo Cárdenas Garza, delegate of Canacar in Jalisco, called for a Civic Electoral Decalogue on the path of the process of electing the next president, promoting participation in a responsible, peaceful and ethical manner.

The ten commandments consist of the following points:

1. We call upon all members from all delegations and regions to come and vote to strengthen the legitimacy of our Canacar representation, which unites the purposes of moving forward as entrepreneurs, friends, colleagues and family.
2. Let’s solidify the Canacar 2026 election with an example of responsible participation at the national level, for a strong representation.
3. The doors of each delegation and representation are and have been open, with respect and plurality, to all options participating in the process.
4. Let’s participate and choose February 13, 2026 to strengthen the interests of our companies and their optimal representation from our national organization.
5. Every vote will contribute to a stronger , more reliable, and more responsible representation for all of us.
6. Active participation will reflect a commitment to the future of Canacar.
7. Voting is exercising responsibility for the corporate interests of our companies.
8. A participatory election will consolidate the voice of the trucking industry before the bodies that regulate and promote us as a freight trucking sector in Mexico and in each region.
9. The strength of Canacar will be reinforced by the civic participation of all members.
10. Canacar members demonstrate leadership when we participate actively and in an orderly manner.

The elections for president of Canacar, which will take place on February 13, will be held in the various delegations throughout the country of this institution, as well as at the national headquarters located in Mexico City.

After the election process and once the president-elect has been defined, the National Assembly will be held on March 2nd where the new members of the National Governing Council will be sworn in.

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El cargo Canacar promotes civic and electoral ten-point plan ahead of election apareció primero en T21.

On January 12, the candidates for the presidency of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) registered their candidacies; Augusto Ramos, Rómulo Mejía and Ramiro Montemayor.

Today it was announced through a statement that Rómulo Mejía is joining a project in which Augusto Ramos will head a candidacy to run for the presidency of Canacar.

“Augusto Ramos, promoter of the “Actions that deliver results” slate, and Rómulo Mejía, representative of the “United getting back on track” slate, announced the formation of an alliance with a clear objective: to strengthen the Chamber and work together for the benefit of the sector,” the statement said.

In a message shared via WhatsApp, Rómulo Mejía justified his decision by stating that several transport operators had called for unity. “That’s why I decided to join forces with Augusto, to combine our individual strengths and put them at the service of the Chamber and the industry. This decision is about unity, not division, and about facing together the challenges that the transport sector is experiencing today.”

According to information obtained by T21, part of the agreement is to contribute to building Augusto Ramos’s candidacy so that he can complete his term at the head of Canacar, and in the next election process Rómulo Mejía would be the candidate to run for president.

Last week, after the registration of the candidates and the list of those who will accompany the possible presidents, Rómulo Mejía stated through social media that he had not accepted that list.

“When they registered me as a candidate, they wanted me to accept a slate that we candidates hadn’t decided on. It was a slate created by the current leadership. I didn’t accept it,” Rómulo Mejia, then a candidate for the presidency of Canacar, shared on his social media.

The election process will take place on February 13th, and currently there are two candidates for this position: Ramiro Montemayor and Augusto Ramos.

The swearing-in ceremony for the president elected in the ongoing process will take place on March 2nd.

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El cargo Rómulo Mejía joins Augusto Ramos’s candidacy in the race for the presidency of Canacar apareció primero en T21.

Last Monday, January 12, the three candidates for the presidency of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) submitted their registrations to occupy the organization’s top position

As a result of this registration, some positions have been made public regarding the composition of the lists that will accompany the various candidates.

“When they registered me as a candidate, they wanted me to accept a slate that we candidates didn’t decide on. It was a slate created by the current leadership. I didn’t accept it,” Rómulo Mejia, candidate for the presidency of Canacar, shared on his social media.

T21 inquired about this situation and obtained the following information. “In the first session of the National Executive Commission of 2026, it was agreed that the Electoral Commission would form a single slate for the three candidates , in an effort to contribute to the unity of the Chamber, and that it was accepted by the representatives of the three candidates: Noé Paredes (Augusto Ramos), Luis Exsome (Rómulo Mejía) and David Villarreal (Ramiro Montemayor) ,” Canacar shared.

As a result of the above, last Monday, after the registration of the three candidates, the three slates were analyzed and it was decided to confirm the unity slate, which included the best profiles presented, resulting in the election of eight representatives from Rómulo Mejía’s slate, seven from Augusto Ramos’s, and six from Ramiro Montemayor’s.

“It is a consensus agreement between the representatives of each candidate and was accepted at the time by all three, plus Ramón Medrano in his capacity as former president and the current president, as established by the statutes,” the organization shared.

On the day of registration, as agreed upon by the Electoral Commission, the candidates were asked to return after 5:00 p.m. Ramiro Montemayor accepted the unity slate, while Rómulo Mejía declined to accept it, and Augusto Ramos did not appear for the process

“I didn’t accept it because I came with my team, with people I trust, hardworking and honest people. I can’t ask for their support and then turn my back on them. That’s not who I am,” Rómulo Mejía stated on his social media.

“Since the start of my campaign I have complied with the agreements, that is why I submitted my leave of absence as vice president of the Chamber, and now although most of the members of the unity slate are not those proposed by me, it is the agreement reached in the Electoral Commission and therefore we must honor them,” Ramiro Montemayor told T21.

According to Canacar, the elections will take place on February 13th , with voting occurring in each of the organization’s branches. The swearing-in ceremony for the elected president will be held on March 2nd.

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El cargo Candidates “U-turn” on Canacar Electoral Commission agreement apareció primero en T21.

From early morning, the headquarters of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) began to see activity. Starting at 8:00 a.m. , folders, files, and official documents began to be submitted to the Electoral Affairs Commission, marking the formal start of the process leading up to the election next Friday, February 13 .

Regardless of the election outcome, the elected official will be sworn in on March 2nd during the Canacar General Assembly , to be held in Mexico City . As part of this process, each candidate submitted a slate of 27 members who would form their team within the National Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 term.

The first to arrive and submit his application was Augusto Ramos , from Grupo Rame , who opened the day with the presentation of his complete documentation and awaited the corresponding review to obtain his certificate as a candidate.

In the case of Augusto Ramos , his proposal stems from the need to strengthen Canacar’s role as an organization with an effective presence throughout the country. From his perspective, the Chamber should be a permanent player in matters of security, mobility, and infrastructure , promoting better coordination with authorities and working to reduce the regulatory fragmentation that currently complicates the operation of the trucking industry, particularly through the harmonization of mobility laws across states and municipalities.

Ramos also proposes moving towards a more comprehensive modernization of infrastructure , with an emphasis on highways and ports, supported by increased investment and the use of technology. This includes the digitization of processes to streamline procedures and the flow of goods, as well as active participation by Canacar in regulatory and trade forums, especially regarding relations with the United States . He also proposes strengthening regional delegations to provide, according to him, closer support to carriers.

The next to go through the process was Ramiro Montemayor of Transportes Mon-Ro , who followed the same protocol. The candidate, who months earlier had requested a leave of absence from his position as vice president of Canacar to run for president, presented a proposal structured around three main points.

With 30 years of experience in the trucking industry , Montemayor prioritized infrastructure and safety , considering that roads and operators are the true production lines of the sector and that it is necessary to improve the identification of risk zones based on information generated from the field.

In addition, a second focus was on training , through the creation of the Canacar University , with the intention of unifying the various existing programs and professionalizing all links in the logistics chain. The third pillar of their proposal is financial certification , aimed at protecting transport companies with standardized criteria and more robust documentation that reduces legal and operational risks.

The day concluded with the submission of the slate headed by Rómulo Mejía of Autotransportes Romedu , thus completing the registration of all three candidates. With over three decades of experience in the transportation industry , Mejía has held prior meetings with carriers from various regions of the country and presents a vision focused on strengthening the Chamber’s institutional weight. Mejía is currently the Canacar delegate in Monterrey .

Their approach stems from the need for Canacar to strengthen its representative capacity and have a more prominent presence in decision-making processes that impact the country, while simultaneously fostering a more competitive and secure industry with greater economic and social contributions . From this perspective, their proposal aims to reposition the trucking industry as a strategic sector within the national production landscape.

With all three slates of candidates now submitted, the process enters its formal validation phase , in which the Electoral Commission will review the documentation to issue the official certificates. From that point on, the stage of greater visibility will begin: regional tours, outreach to members, and the presentation of proposals to a sector facing structural challenges in security, infrastructure, regulation, and competitiveness.

On February 13 , the truckers will decide who will lead Canacar for the 2026-2027 term . The slates of candidates are now on the table, and the Chamber has entered a crucial decision phase.

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El cargo Candidates for the presidency of Canacar register their slates for the elections apareció primero en T21.