QUERÉTARO, QRO.- This state has become a laboratory where opportunities and risks converge for Mexican logistics. During the monthly breakfast of the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) , specialists agreed that intermodalism —the combination of modes such as rail and trucking—is no longer a complement, but an urgent need in a country whose infrastructure is facing saturation limits and where the shortage of truck operators threatens to hinder competitiveness .

Carlos Ramírez, an economic analyst, outlined the structural framework: “The country’s infrastructure is collapsing, particularly freight trains, which are already saturated .” His warning aligns with the so-called Plan Mexico, which positions logistics as a strategic sector, along with the automotive, energy, and aerospace industries. However, the challenge is financial: “The plan will remain up in the air if the private sector is not brought to the table to invest in logistics and infrastructure,” he emphasized. In this regard, intermodality appears to be an immediate solution to alleviate the pressure on road transport, which is increasingly vulnerable to the lack of skilled labor and rising costs.

From a trade union perspective, Yolanda Esquivel, general director of AMTI, emphasized the importance of Querétaro as a key hub for the intermodal network. “We are very happy to come to Querétaro because it is a key hub for our industry. We have representatives from Silao, San Luis Potosí, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Toluca (…) Querétaro is also a growing industry .” Her vision is that the future of the sector cannot be sustained through isolated efforts. Therefore, AMTI is promoting a strategy of broad collaboration with clusters, chambers, and associations. “Always contributing, which is what we must do more of,” she stated. The message is clear: in an environment of regulatory, fiscal, and labor uncertainty, the only way forward is through inter-institutional cooperation that generates critical mass.

Carlos Canseco, general director of the Querétaro Cluster for Logistics Innovation (CILQRO) , provided a business-regional perspective. He emphasized that the state functions as the “lung of Mexico City” thanks to the convergence of two railroads, Highway 57, and more than 25 industrial parks . These advantages have positioned Querétaro as a magnet for new investment. But Canseco also hit the nail on the head: “Intermodal transport is growing, definitely growing; the lack of trucking operators is driving its use significantly, and more and more companies are considering it as a real alternative for moving their cargo.” The boom, however, faces a cultural obstacle: “There is still a lot of misinformation within the industry about how useful and beneficial intermodal transport can be for logistics chains.”

The consensus among the three speakers is that Mexico cannot miss the wave of nearshoring (the relocation of production lines to consumer centers). Repositioning supply chains toward North America requires reliable and scalable logistics solutions. Without intermodal logistics, opportunities could be diluted by road transport bottlenecks or the tense renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), where rules of origin and anti-China clauses add uncertainty. “Behind Plan Mexico is the idea of ​​boosting logistics, because without logistics, nearshoring is impossible,” noted Carlos Ramírez.

AMTI has insisted that its mission is to convince more companies to integrate intermodalism into their operations. This requires forums and ongoing training that debunk myths and demonstrate with data the benefits in efficiency, costs, and sustainability . Canseco summarized: “One of the biggest areas of opportunity is to hold more events of this type, where the industry can participate and disseminate the benefits of intermodalism, because we need more companies to see it as a strategic option in their business models.”

The challenge, however, is no small one. Specialists warn that the country’s economic growth has remained stagnant at an average of 2.1% annually for the past three decades, while the fiscal deficit has reached levels not seen in 35 years. Against this backdrop, the consolidation of intermodality will depend on logistics associations, the private sector, and the government articulating a common agenda that ensures infrastructure, financing, and clear rules .

Time is running out: the nearshoring window of opportunity could close faster than Mexico decides whether to seriously commit to intermodal.

With information from Osiel Cruz Galindo / Sent .

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