Grupo Directo Express announced that as part of its expansion plans for this year, it will focus on expanding its services in the port of Lázaro Cárdenas , as well as reaching Manzanillo, and also venturing into intermodal transport.

“This year, the goal is the diversification process to integrate ourselves into the intermodal industry. We are going to manage 100 units, and we will do so in both containerized cargo and the steel industry,” said Iago Cano, Commercial & Business Strategy Manager for the company.

In an interview following the monthly meeting of the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) , he specified that in the coming days they will receive 2 of 20 full-size container units, in addition to offering competitive rates.

However, he said they see challenges in intermodal transport, including the efficiency of routes and carrying out services with full containers.

“The goal here is to avoid returning empty, and we have to find a way to do it. We are experts in dedicated intermodal unit service, and we believe that will lead us to that, precisely because of the return of empty containers, and we aim to be very competitive in our rates under this dedicated service model,” he explained.

He mentioned that they would be looking to develop various intermodal routes, although being in the port of Lázaro Cárdenas would be the first to begin with coverage in the center, Bajío, north, “the objective is to look for those that allow us to have the equipment going back and forth, we can develop the destination.”

Therefore, he anticipated that they will begin the intermodal service in 2026 , and will also seek closer ties with the railways.

Manzanillo and Veracruz, ports in the sights of Directo Express

Cano recalled that three years ago, they ventured into Lázaro Cárdenas through the transportation of finished vehicles with their car carrier division, which has experienced constant growth with its two yards located near this port.

“We handle the entire operation, not only of finished vehicles but also of steel coils, and we currently have a distribution yard. We are aiming to have the construction of another yard, fully equipped for its operation, completed by the end of this year. We don’t currently have storage yards for containerized cargo, but we haven’t ruled it out,” he stated.

He added that Grupo Directo Express is also interested in reaching the ports of Veracruz and Manzanillo , with the latter being the next destination before the end of 2026, offering the same services they currently provide in Lázaro Cárdenas.

He stated that although challenges exist, 2026 is a year of consolidation for the company, and they will continue renewing their fleet, with an increase of approximately 20% per year in Mexico. Grupo Directo Express currently has 1,200 tractors and 1,200 trailers.

Currently, the firm makes approximately 240 daily shipments from Nuevo Laredo, and distribution to different points in the country, as well as yards in Salinas Victoria, San Luis Potosí, Silao, Aguascalientes, Toluca, among others.

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Freight trucking is a fundamental activity in the Mexican economy and also contributes to society. More than 80% of national merchandise is transported by this mode of transport, while it accounts for more than 57% of total trade, in addition to contributing 3.7% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) .

Freight trucking companies and participants recognize that one of the main challenges is recruiting new trucking operators or retaining this workforce. In fact, the International Road Transport Union (IRU)  estimated that there will be a shortage of 99,000 trucking operators in these jobs by 2025.

Based on this reality, the Drive is Great certification , an initiative jointly launched in 2023 by VI-Human and Grupo T21 , aims to recognize organizations that have managed to develop a successful culture and good institutional practices, centered on the comprehensive development of its operators as a strategic basis for its operations, based on building trust among all collaborators, who enjoy winning through their roles.

Since this certification was launched in 2023 , a growing community has emerged, including the following companies:

• Pilot Auto Transport .
• García´s Trucking .
• Direct Express Group .
• STI Group .
• FEMA Transports .
• Trareysa .
• Route .
• Zinergia .

These companies are part of a group of organizations that maintain a commitment to their employees and their customers, which is why they have strengthened and sustained the constant development of their quality and service policies, and in particular, those focused on their human capital .

“Drive is Great honors organizations that have achieved organizational capabilities and competencies that lead to models for developing new talent, strengthening their employer brand, and retaining their operators, as well as their focus on establishing alternatives for operator development through ongoing training and awareness-raising to prioritize safety and well-being,” highlighted Einar Palomino, president of Drive is Great.

Drive is Great certification evaluates four major areas: new workforce development, operator retention strategies, employer branding, and training, education, and safety plans .

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SALINAS VICTORIA, NL – Aware of the shortage of qualified operators in the Mexican trucking industry and the need to generate added value for society, Grupo Directo Express (number 11 in the  Top 100 Trucking Industry ) launched the DX Institute, an entity that will enable the training of new talent aligned with the corporation’s objectives and, above all, committed to its environment and society.

While the reality is that there are more than 90,000 unfilled freight transport operator positions in the country, it is also evident that there is a lack of human capital that can be in line with the values of companies, a situation that Directo Express seeks to reverse by generating not only operators, but also people with ethics and responsibility who can face the daily challenges in their environment .

The objective of the DX Institute is to promote a new generation of highly qualified operators with an operational culture and social commitment from their training, based on the regulations established by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , guaranteeing their competence and professionalism.

The training includes both theoretical classes and field practice, ensuring comprehensive and useful preparation to face the challenges of today’s transportation. Additionally, thanks to strategic alliances such as Voluntarios México , community activities are carried out that strengthen the operator’s sense of social responsibility.

The DX Institute will have the capacity to train between 30 and 35 operators simultaneously , who can develop over 10 weeks even if they have no experience in the activity, thereby seeking to generate a pool of talent, and transform a vocation into a solid career.

“The DX Institute was born from our commitment to safety, operational excellence, and, above all, the professional development of those who are the backbone of our company: our operators. The program is designed to provide the tools, knowledge, and skills necessary to address any challenge they face on the road,” said Claudia Ramos, Commercial & OPEX Manager at Grupo Directo Express.

Among the values pursued by the DX Institute are responsibility, integrity, security, respect, discipline, professionalism, empathy and improvement .

“The DX Institute is a space for developing responsible, highly trained men and women who operate transport vehicles, aware of the way these vehicles interact with their environment,” said Sandra Montelongo, professional leader of Operator Development.

The DX Institute consists of four training classrooms, a medical office, which permanently provides training to operators, and a psychology area. In addition, there are sleeping areas for both men and women, as well as bathrooms, showers, and changing rooms for both genders. The goal is to provide students with an environment that fosters better results .

The training consists of 70% practical activities , which take place in a maneuvering yard in the municipality of Salinas Victoria, while 30% of theoretical instruction takes place within the facilities of the DX Institute.

With 15 years of experience in the market, Grupo Directo Express has a fleet of more than 1,300 tractor-trailers and 1,500 towing vehicles , providing dry van services for trade between Mexico and the United States, with door-to-door and international crossings, as well as a flatbed and finished vehicle division.

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ESCOBEDO, NL. – In 1997, when International decided to set up its heavy-duty production plant in this municipality in the north of the country, it was an unpopulated area and Nuevo León’s manufacturing activity was far from representing 28.84% of the State’s Gross Domestic Product,according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) .

This manufacturing plant was the first production unit to be established in the state , thereby also motivating the attraction and development of companies supplying this industry, which is recognized as a contribution to the entity.

International celebrated one million units produced at this plant, which currently produces 240 units daily of seven different models, including the LT tractor-trailer, the HX and HV severe-duty trucks, and the MV medium-duty trucks, as well as the electric version of the latter, the eMV, of which two units are manufactured weekly.

Of the just over six thousand employees that International has, five thousand employees are concentrated in the Escobedo plant, and where, according to Fernando Galván, director of Manufacturing Operations at the EAP Plant, a mystique of shared responsibility is maintained and this is manifested in the success and collective results of the entire team.

Stefan Palmgren, who is responsible for Production and Logistics at TRATON , among other things , emphasized the plant’s adoption of the “International Way,” which is focused on innovation, sustainability vision and the adoption of technologies to guarantee quality for customers.

“The International Way is also a commitment to employee empowerment, fostering their mental capabilities and leadership,” Palmgren added.

Although construction of the plant began in 1997, it was on February 16, 1998 when the first unit manufactured on this production line was produced. It was the MV 4700 truck , with which this story began.

Rafael Alvarenga, President of Commercial Operations for International Latin America, referred to the company’s focus on being partners for clients, with solutions that transform operations.

Alvarenga highlighted that the plant’s performance was accompanied by the performance of the 17 distributor groups in the country, with which they have a presence in more than 90 service points, and that in 2024 it allowed them to have positive results such as an increase of +50% in sales within Classes 6 to 8.

Regarding the millionth unit, Carlos López, Sales Director of International Solutions, described that it is the LT S13 tractor-trailer delivered to Grupo Directo Express . Three commemorative units were made available, which completes the delivery of an order of 100 tractor-trailers.

Carlos López described that currently more than 50 clients are operating the S13, and in total there are more than 600 units with more than 26 million kilometers traveled.

In the case of Directo Express, the business model is comprehensive, where it is not just about selling trucks, “but also supporting customers throughout the entire operational stage,” added Carlos López.

Iago Cano, Commercial Manager of Grupo Directo Express, described that the group emerged in 2007 and in 2014 they had a change in business focus to stop importing used tractor trucks from the United States, to buy new tractor trucks.

International’s business model in conjunction with Grupo Fultra, which offers a comprehensive offering, allows access to efficient solutions and thus, “allows us to focus on what we know how to do, and we believe that in the future we will have more opportunities,” added Cano.

The LT S13 model has among its benefits the improvement in fuel efficiency of 8% compared to previous generations of engines, which can translate into savings of 3,700 liters of diesel per year, representing 100 thousand pesos per unit, as well as stopping the emission of 10 tons of CO2.

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FULTRA has proposed a transformation strategy that includes a renewed organizational culture based on seven values ​​that will guide each action, and will be reflected in its new visual identity: a logo that symbolizes professionalism, trust, closeness and boldness.

FULTRA’s approach to its transport partner considers a strategy in which it seeks to be the preferred partner, highlighting two fundamental pillars:

• Partner : Committed to the success of its clients through trust and shared value with a long-term perspective,
• Preferred : Agile and innovative solutions that adapt to the needs of its clients.

“FULTRA was created to offer a comprehensive solution. Today, thanks to the joint efforts of our companies and teams, we are more aligned than ever to ensure the success of our clients,” said Jorge Martínez Madero, CEO of FULTRA.

The Fultra 2030 vision was presented at the Meeting with Leaders , where Salvador Alva highlighted the role of leadership in this transformation, and clients such as DX (Directo Express) , TUMSA , HG Transoprtaciones and Ximple Logistics shared their best practices. It was also strengthened at the annual event of its sales force “Conecta”, with the participation of commercial leaders and panels with clients such as  TMS , Express del Norte , Border Freight , OXXO and Estafeta .

FULTRA includes the companies Fruehauf, East, Amparts, Promare, International-Sierra Norte and Fultra Capital (Idealease Noreste, Fultra Rent and Fruehauf Financial) with presence in North America.

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This year, Directo Express focused on continuing its main business strategy, which is based on maintaining long-term relationships with its customers. It also devoted attention to continuing to strengthen all its divisions, placing special emphasis on the godmother division, which was integrated into the portfolio in May of last year. The plans for the end of the year are to total 50 units 100% dedicated to the movement of zero-kilometer vehicles.

“Entering this new area was challenging, even though it is also a land transport division. It has its own peculiarities and different characteristics, but we see an interesting area of ​​opportunity. At the same time, we see good opportunities in movements in seaports,” explained Iago Cano, commercial manager at Grupo Directo Express, in an interview.

Cano explained that in order to meet the commitments made to customers, Directo Express is focused on a significant renewal of its fleet, which was impacted by the pandemic and the shortage of tractor-trailers and boxes.

” What we are looking for is to prepare ourselves . We are currently very focused on all the developments in technologies and processes, to be ready and meet the requirements of the automotive industry, which is where we are most involved. This sector has very aggressive expectations in terms of technology, environmental care, talent development, etc.,” the executive added.

For Directo Express and the industry in general, 2024 has been a challenging year in terms of insecurity due to the increase in vehicle thefts. The latest statistics shared by the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERPV) detailed that at the end of the eighth month of the year, 142 stolen units were recorded, an increase of 2.8% compared to August of last year. In turn, the figure reached in the aforementioned month increased 14.3% compared to July of the same year.

Another challenging area, which is not exclusive to Directo Express, but which is also being addressed, is the shortage of operators.  Cano explained that this issue, although old, is still current.

“We are trying to be creative and come up with new ways to develop staff and create opportunities for people. We already have a school for operators, in which a large percentage are women who are interested in developing from scratch as operators, in fact, we already have a significant number of women who are currently working with us,” she explained.

In this area, Directo Express started a synergy with the Institute for Training and Education for Work (ICET) Nuevo León in 2023, a collaboration that was renewed this year. To date, the transport company has trained 207 operators who have received 20,550 hours of theoretical teaching and 4,110 hours of practical training .

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