The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) announced the guidelines for the program to replace and modernize heavy vehicles, tractor-trailers, trucks and buses that provide federal passenger and freight transportation services, which will come into effect on May 29.

According to what was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) , the strategy seeks to facilitate the renewal of old units through financing schemes backed by  Nacional Financiera (Nafin) , aimed mainly at micro and small transporters who currently have a vehicle fleet of no more than 30 units .

The objective is “to replace new or semi-new units, in order to improve the age of the fleet, the condition of the vehicle fleet and road safety,” it was stated in the DOF.

The document specifies that individuals with business activity and legal entities whose main activity is federal passenger and freight transport may participate, classified as micro-transporters (from one to five units), and small transporters (from six to 30 units).

The program operates under a Pari Passu Guarantee (shared risk) scheme in terms of the Nafin Guarantee Program, where credit risk will be shared between the federal government and participating financial institutions.

Terms and payments

The social action includes financing of up to 15 million pesos (mdp) or its equivalent in US dollars, and the option to acquire new units will be for up to 84 months with a minimum down payment of 10 percent .

For pre-owned units, the maximum term will be up to 60 months with a minimum down payment of 15 percent .

“The prices of the units and specific financing conditions will vary, depending on the brand, type of unit, model, and financial intermediaries participating in the Nafin Guarantee Program,” the DOF stated.

Participation requirements

To access the program, applicants must meet various conditions established by the SICT:

-Be a permit holder for federal motor transport service with a vehicle fleet of up to 30 units.

-The permit granted by the SICT must have a minimum age of three years in the federal motor transport service.

To fulfill the program’s objectives, once the financing is approved, the participating permit holder must go to the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport and/or SICT center to present the requirements for the registration of each unit participating in the program.

In the case of used units, they must present the requirements established by the financial intermediaries participating in the program, who will verify that the units comply with the physical-mechanical conditions issued by an inspection unit authorized by the SICT, the vehicle must be reviewed by the trained, empowered and designated public servant.

Program validity

The Official Gazette of the Federation establishes that the validity of the program will be indefinite , provided that there is budgetary availability provided by the SICT in terms of the Nafin Guarantee Program.

The SICT reported that the calls for proposals and access rules will be published through official SICT and Nafin channels to guarantee transparency in the allocation of support.

The agency indicated that to clarify doubts related to the program, those interested will be assisted through the following means of the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport: financ.dgaf@sict.gob.mx or the telephone number 55 5723 9300, extensions 20001 and 20270.

The program is based on the National Development Plan , which establishes as a public policy axis the need to have quality transport infrastructure and services that contribute to taking advantage of the country’s comparative advantages.

Meanwhile, the Sectoral Program for Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation 2025-2030 establishes as fundamental objectives increasing the competitiveness of federal motor transport services, promoting investment in services and innovative financing schemes to modernize the vehicle fleet and strengthen the motor transport industry.

According to the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (ANPACT) , the fleet of heavy vehicles in the cargo segment in Mexico has an average age of 19 years, which affects, among other factors, the risk of accidents and high emissions of pollutants, reinforcing the need to accelerate its renewal.

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El cargo These are the guidelines for modernizing trucking fleets apareció primero en T21.

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) announced the guidelines for the program to replace and modernize heavy vehicles, tractor-trailers, trucks and buses that provide federal passenger and freight transportation services, which will come into effect on May 29.

According to what was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) , the strategy seeks to facilitate the renewal of old units through financing schemes backed by  Nacional Financiera (Nafin) , aimed mainly at micro and small transporters who currently have a vehicle fleet of no more than 30 units .

The objective is “to replace new or semi-new units, in order to improve the age of the fleet, the condition of the vehicle fleet and road safety,” it was stated in the DOF.

The document specifies that individuals with business activity and legal entities whose main activity is federal passenger and freight transport may participate, classified as micro-transporters (from one to five units), and small transporters (from six to 30 units).

The program operates under a Pari Passu Guarantee (shared risk) scheme in terms of the Nafin Guarantee Program, where credit risk will be shared between the federal government and participating financial institutions.

Terms and payments

The social action includes financing of up to 15 million pesos (mdp) or its equivalent in US dollars, and the option to acquire new units will be for up to 84 months with a minimum down payment of 10 percent .

For pre-owned units, the maximum term will be up to 60 months with a minimum down payment of 15 percent .

“The prices of the units and specific financing conditions will vary, depending on the brand, type of unit, model, and financial intermediaries participating in the Nafin Guarantee Program,” the DOF stated.

Participation requirements

To access the program, applicants must meet various conditions established by the SICT:

-Be a permit holder for federal motor transport service with a vehicle fleet of up to 30 units.

-The permit granted by the SICT must have a minimum age of three years in the federal motor transport service.

To fulfill the program’s objectives, once the financing is approved, the participating permit holder must go to the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport and/or SICT center to present the requirements for the registration of each unit participating in the program.

In the case of used units, they must present the requirements established by the financial intermediaries participating in the program, who will verify that the units comply with the physical-mechanical conditions issued by an inspection unit authorized by the SICT, the vehicle must be reviewed by the trained, empowered and designated public servant.

Program validity

The Official Gazette of the Federation establishes that the validity of the program will be indefinite , provided that there is budgetary availability provided by the SICT in terms of the Nafin Guarantee Program.

The SICT reported that the calls for proposals and access rules will be published through official SICT and Nafin channels to guarantee transparency in the allocation of support.

The agency indicated that to clarify doubts related to the program, those interested will be assisted through the following means of the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport: financ.dgaf@sict.gob.mx or the telephone number 55 5723 9300, extensions 20001 and 20270.

The program is based on the National Development Plan , which establishes as a public policy axis the need to have quality transport infrastructure and services that contribute to taking advantage of the country’s comparative advantages.

Meanwhile, the Sectoral Program for Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation 2025-2030 establishes as fundamental objectives increasing the competitiveness of federal motor transport services, promoting investment in services and innovative financing schemes to modernize the vehicle fleet and strengthen the motor transport industry.

According to the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (ANPACT) , the fleet of heavy vehicles in the cargo segment in Mexico has an average age of 19 years, which affects, among other factors, the risk of accidents and high emissions of pollutants, reinforcing the need to accelerate its renewal.

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El cargo These are the guidelines for modernizing trucking fleets apareció primero en T21.

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) , in September 2025, an agreement establishing administrative simplification actions for various procedures related to federal motor transport .

The document contemplates the merging of homoclaves, updating of requirements, elimination of some procedures and the digitization of processes before the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport , with the objective of reducing resolution times and modernizing the administrative management of the sector .

However, in practice, there have been reports of delays in some procedures.

A vehicle deregistration request submitted last November (2025) remains unresolved. The explanation given is that “the system doesn’t allow it,” and there has been no formal determination regarding the final status of the process, Eucario Reyes, president of the National Association of Representation in Motor Transport (ANRA) , told T21 .

According to Reyes, the number of similar cases exceeds 300 , primarily related to vehicle registration changes—transactions that replace or update a vehicle in the registry—as well as license plate registration procedures, that is, the assignment or change of federal license plates. These procedures remain on hold while technical teams conduct internal system validations.

One of the documents consulted indicates that the procedure “is not rejected” and that it will remain in prevention status until the Directorate of Technological Innovation and Systems Operation resolves the matter.

Reyes added that, during the submission of some procedures, they have been told at the window that a notarized power of attorney is not always necessary; however, in later stages the system may require validations related to legal representation or with the linking of the Federal Taxpayer Registry (RFC) of the permit holder and that of the attorney, which —he explained— may delay the conclusion of the procedure.

The agreement published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) establishes actions aimed at administrative simplification; however, the operational implementation of the new digital processes will be crucial for these objectives to be effectively reflected in the daily management of the sector.

According to the document, the SICT will carry out the necessary procedures to make the adjustments and updates to the formats, electronic systems, reception methods, platforms, databases and procedures.

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El cargo Simplification of procedures for road transport before the SICT, with challenges in its implementation: ANRA apareció primero en T21.

The vehicle registration crisis affecting federal trucking is beginning to show signs of improvement , although operational uncertainty has not yet been completely dispelled. Talleres Gráficos de México (TGM)  delivered the first batch of metal license plates to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , as part of a larger order aimed at addressing a backlog that has accumulated over several months.

According to official information, TGM delivered 80,104 sets of license plates with stickers , out of a total of 418,999 units committed. Production is being carried out in stages and is part of the plan defined after the authorization of federal funds to address the shortage of license plates, which forced the sector to operate with provisional permits since October 2025.

In this regard, Eucario Reyes, president of the National Association of Representation in Motor Transport (ANRA), told T21 that, for the carriers, the arrival of the material represents a partial advance, but not an immediate solution .

He noted that trucks with license plates have already begun arriving, although the distribution process will take time. “They are being delivered little by little; it could take up to a month to complete the deliveries to the delegations,” he explained in an interview.

Reyes noted that the approved budget—130 million pesos—allowed production to resume, but cautioned that the challenge now lies in delivery logistics , particularly to states with high demand for paperwork, such as Nuevo León and Jalisco. Meanwhile, in several regions of the country, trucking continues to operate under provisional arrangements .

Reyes emphasized that the standardization process is not limited to license plates , as registration cards, stickers, and documentation associated with various types of vehicles, including cross-border and double-articulated transport, are also underway. However, he insisted that the transition is not uniform and that the impact of the backlog remains concentrated outside the central region of the country .

The lack of license plates led the SICT (Secretariat of Communications and Transportation) to formalize, last October, the Provisional Permit to Circulate Without License Plates or Stickers, valid for up to 180 days. Although this mechanism allowed operations to continue, carriers have pointed out regulatory gaps, duplication of requirements, and a lack of clear guidelines for returning to metal identification.

With production underway, the sector is seeing a gradual recovery from a crisis that exposed administrative and planning weaknesses. The arrival of license plates marks a turning point, but for federal trucking, closing this chapter will depend on the complete nationwide distribution and avoiding a repeat of temporary solutions to structural bureaucratic hurdles.

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El cargo The first license plates arrive, but a backlog persists in federal motor transport. apareció primero en T21.

The document, signed by Luis Ruiz Hernández , head of the Federal Motor Transport Directorate (DGAF) , establishes that the permit must be placed in a visible and legible place, include the vehicle identification number and a QR code with information from the Federal Motor Transport Institutional System (SIAF).

During its validity, it will have the same effects as a metal plate , and may be supplemented with beaconing elements as an additional identification measure, the document states.

However, the announcement confirms what T21 anticipated since September : the federal license plate crisis would reach October without a single metal license plate available, forcing the sector to rely on printed documents to maintain its operations.

What began as a temporary alternative has now become the sole means of vehicle identification for federal motor transport.

But far from resolving the underlying problem, the notice announced last September revived criticism on the Cofemer website . Transporters warned that the SICT continues to lag in processing procedures and that the measure repeats errors from the 2001 reorganization program, when a lack of oversight led to discretion and impacts on operational safety.

The lack of clear guidelines on physical and mechanical inspections was also questioned . In Cofemer’s comments, users noted that, despite the modifications published in June, the DGAF is not currently enforcing this requirement, which—they warned—excludes vehicles operating on federal roads and bridges from the regulations.

Although the notice argues that the measure seeks to ensure service continuity while the metal plates are delivered, it does not define when or how the delivery will occur.

For the union, this lack of definition prolongs legal uncertainty and reveals a lack of institutional coordination between the departments responsible for vehicle control.

Thus, the formalization of the “provisional permit” confirms the validity of temporary solutions: mechanisms that ensure circulation, but not certainty, in a scenario where bureaucracy advances faster than regulation .

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El cargo No plates! SICT formalizes provisional permits; transporters warn of regulatory gap apareció primero en T21.

The warning has been fulfilled! What was supposed to be a basic procedure has become a bureaucratic wall that leaves a strategic sector dependent on a piece of paper instead of a metal plate, is how transporters describe the scene.

As T21 anticipated , the federal license plate crisis arrives in October without a single metal plate available .

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) published a notice in the Official Gazette of the Federation authorizing federal transportation service vehicles and their modes to operate with a printed “template” as a means of vehicle identification for a period of 180 days.

However, the measure that was supposed to provide certainty became another obstacle: the document, despite having been published on September 22 , cannot be consulted (reviewed at the time of this article) on the Cofemer platform , where the draft projects should be available for public review, as well as the comments of those affected.

For the union , this opacity exacerbates uncertainty, because they do not have direct access to the guidelines that regulate their daily operations.

A few days ago, Eucario Reyes, president of the National Association of Motor Transport Representation (ANRA), told T21 that by October there wouldn’t be a single license plate left at the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF).

The scene is confirmed by an improvised mechanism that reduces vehicular formality to a printed template , with no details about its placement or characteristics, since the Cofemer portal does not allow the document to be consulted.

For transporters, the solution doesn’t resolve the underlying problem: companies will remain trapped in temporary procedures that expire in 30 or 90 days, impossible to reconcile with annual contracts and commitments. In Reyes’s words, the situation is “very sad” and reflects a void in which bureaucracy outweighs the country’s own machinery.

In this context, this situation not only symbolizes a lack of resources, but also a critical disconnect between administrative decisions and the actual operation of transportation.

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El cargo SICT confirms there will be no plaques; details of the preliminary project cannot be found at Cofemer. apareció primero en T21.

The federal transportation crisis has a set date: in October, there will not be a single metal license plate available at the Federal Transportation Directorate (DGAF) , according to Eucario Reyes, president of the National Association of Transportation Representation (ANRA) .

What should be a basic procedure has become an obstacle that threatens to slow down more than 12,000 units throughout Mexico.

The transporters’ warning is also reflected in official data. In April 2025 alone, 14,000 cargo permit applications were completed , of which 858 corresponded to license plate replacements and 1,090 to issuances, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) . The highest concentration was in Mexico City, Nuevo León, and Jalisco, states that currently bear the greatest administrative pressure due to the backlog.

The transporters looked for a way out before the storm hit . They proposed covering the cost of the license plates directly from the supplier and paying the SICT for the entire process.

The proposal was intended to compensate for the lack of public resources, but was rejected by the SICT’s Legal Affairs Directorate, arguing that it would involve corruption , Reyes explained.

The consequence is a sector trapped in temporary permits of 30 days or three months , measures that are practically useless for an industry that operates on annual plans and customer commitments, Reyes warned.

“There is great willingness on the part of Ernesto Bueno, Executive Director of Procedures and Services for Federal Motor Transport at the SICT; he has sought out a thousand and one ways to help, as has the administration department. There is willingness on the part of the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport, but not on the part of the authorities above Luis Ruiz, Director General of Federal Motor Transport,” Reyes stated.

The drama is compounded by other shortcomings: there are no training records for operators and insufficient appointments to obtain federal licenses . Even so, official figures show progress.

By early October, Reyes warned, there wouldn’t be a single plaque at the Federal Transportation Directorate. The scene he describes is bleak: there’s nothing and the situation is “very sad,” a reflection of the void in which transportation is trapped when bureaucracy overrides daily operations.

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El cargo OCTOBER WITHOUT LICENSE PLATES? FEDERAL TRUCKING INDUSTRY ON EDGE DUE TO BUREAUCRACY: ANRA apareció primero en T21.

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) confirmed on Tuesday that the ordinance requiring road markings on freight and passenger vehicles will not be mandatory, nor will there be any penalties for those who fail to do so.

The regulation, published on February 7 in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) , requires owners of federal trucking fleets to identify their units—with the alphanumeric data corresponding to their license plates —using decals, paint, or tarps, depending on the vehicle’s configuration.

With this measure, federal authorities aim to combat the growing insecurity on the country’s roads , arguing that beaconing would provide greater visibility for transportation units through the use of video surveillance, drones, or helicopters, and would give police forces a greater opportunity to quickly locate them in the event of a crime.

“We are not obligated to do the impossible, it is an initiative and we have the idea of ​​covering more than 90% of the units that are located, but those (units) for which there is no possibility due to their characteristics, are not obligated to do the impossible (…) it is not punishable, it is a provision that exists, that arose from the request of the National Guard, but it will not be punishable,” said Paulino Herrera, executive director of Supervision of the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) , an office integrated into the SICT, during the monthly meeting of the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) .

The regulation published in the Official Gazette (DOF) established a 90-day deadline to identify the units, starting February 8. Paulino Herrera stated that the measure has been well received by the transportation sector; according to the official, the National Chamber of Passenger and Tourism Transportation (Canapat) has stated that it has made “great strides” and that they hope to complete it before the upcoming Easter holiday period.

“What we’re being told so far, for example, is that most of the units being deployed to the National Guard ‘s Balam operation —the National Guard is currently reporting a figure of 6,700 units—are already marked,” Herrera said.

According to a press release distributed this Tuesday, March 11, “the SICT aims to mark and identify a fleet of 1.8 million vehicles , both motor vehicles and trailers, that circulate on the federal highway network.”

According to data from the DGAF, as of the end of January 2025, the fleet of federal freight transport vehicles in Mexico consisted of 1,441,492 units, divided into 726,109 motor units, 714,727 towing units, and 656 industrial cranes.

Regarding the business structure of federal freight transport , the authority has registered 215,473 companies, of which 80.2% are micro-enterprises (with one to five units), 16.8% are small (6 to 30), 2.3% are medium-sized (31 to 100) and 0.7% are large (more than 100).

In terms of passenger and tourism , the DGAF has a vehicle fleet of 186,423 units.

Cost of marking, in dispute

Paulino Herrera commented to the AMTI membership that the comments received from the transportation sector prior to publication in the Official Gazette (DOF) were related to the cost of marking, which, according to the official, represents an amount of 300 to 400 pesos per unit for some companies  if carried out manually and with templates, although other companies report higher costs if the application of reflective labels is considered.

“But that’s not the case. We haven’t been told that costs exceed 1,500 pesos per unit, including trailers in some cases,” he said.

These data contrast with the information that T21 has obtained from trucking companies that report that the market cost is higher, around two thousand 500 pesos for matte paint , but if it is requested in gloss paint as recommended by the authority, the cost rises to five thousand pesos per truck due to the type of quality of the materials.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s freight transport sector continues to suffer from road safety issues. Data from Overhaul , a risk management company, indicates that in 2024, 12,300 crimes were reported to authorities nationwide, with Puebla accounting for 23% and the State of Mexico 22%, placing them as the states with the highest number of highway cargo thefts.

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El cargo Marking of road markings on motor transport will not be mandatory and there will be no penalties, confirms the SICT. apareció primero en T21.