Amid a system plagued by backlogs in administrative procedures and constant pressure from a shortage of operators, the issuance of licenses has become a critical issue for the trucking industry . Between January and September 2025 alone, the Federal Directorate General of Motor Transport (DGAF) issued 149,959 licenses, highlighting the volume of paperwork the authority faces and the ongoing pressure on its administrative processes.

Although on paper the procedures should flow normally, in practice the process continues to face obstacles that go beyond the administrative burden.

From the industry’s perspective, the delays are not always due to the volume of work. Eucario Reyes, president of the National Association of Representation in the Trucking Industry  (ANRA) , has pointed out that the lack of signatures on files means that only some procedures move forward, while others remain stalled indefinitely, a practice that, he stated, has been observed since the current administration took over.

“They only sign some files, which we all believe and think is because they receive a bribe. That has been seen,” he stressed.

Regarding license plates, Eucario Reyes explained that the problem isn’t the lack of the process itself, but rather the accumulated administrative delays . He noted that there are currently no plates available because their production was postponed and delivery delayed until the end of January, after the process was transferred to Talleres Gráficos de México (Mexico ‘s printing company) instead of the supplier who had previously won the bid. This situation, he pointed out, has created a new waiting period for operators and companies that depend on these documents to put vehicles on the road.

These types of bottlenecks directly impact operators and companies . The inability to release licenses on time hinders the entry of new operators, exacerbates staff shortages, and, in the case of women, reinforces an additional barrier in a sector where their presence is minimal.

Of the total licenses issued in the first nine months of 2025, 86,591 corresponded to national services and 63,368 to international services, reflecting not only the magnitude of the system, but also the growing demand for operators authorized for longer-range routes.

Even with that volume, the DGAF records confirm that, although incidents in the procedures decreased during September 2024, the underlying problems did not disappear.

That month saw 384 incidents , with a gradual reduction week by week, from 145 cases in the first few days to 66 by the end. The drop in numbers does not necessarily mean that processes have returned to normal, but rather that cases are progressing unevenly or are stalled without resolution .

This administrative weakness becomes more evident when examining who manages to obtain a license. As of September 2025 , the DGAF reported 6,949 valid licenses issued to women nationwide. Although 77.3% correspond to freight services and 22.7% to passenger and tourism services, their share within the total remains marginal: barely 0.9% nationwide .

While indicators show fewer incidents , the system still fails to guarantee certainty regarding processing times or the release of paperwork. In a sector pressured by a shortage of operators, each stalled license is not just another file, but a unit that remains idle, a route that goes uncovered, and an opportunity that is lost.

The reduction in incidents may offer some statistical relief, but it doesn’t solve the core problem. Without clear processes, timely signatures, and consistent rules, the issuance of licenses will remain a bottleneck that limits the growth of the trucking industry and keeps people, especially women, out of a sector that needs to grow, not stagnate.

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

El cargo Issuance of licenses: bottlenecks persist despite the decrease in incidents 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 .

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

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

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) has simplified various procedures and services related to highway development and maintenance, as well as for motor transport and preventive transportation medicine.

Through the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF), it was specified that 19 procedures in total are included in this new public policy for regulatory improvement.

These permits include permits for the use and exploitation of the right-of-way and surrounding areas of federal toll roads, as well as for the use and exploitation of the right-of-way of toll bridges. This applies to access points, crossings, and the installation of advertisements and information signs.

This also applies to the extension of the completion of construction projects resulting from permits for the use of the right-of-way of federal highways and surrounding areas.

Likewise, for the Comprehensive Psychophysical Examination for federal public transport personnel .

Also regarding the Request for Comprehensive Psychophysical Examination for Reassessment Purposes, the Comprehensive Psychophysical Examination for Reassessment Purposes Deriving from the Conduct of the Toxicological Examination, among others.

“Procedures submitted prior to the entry into force of this agreement will be resolved in accordance with the applicable regulations in force at the time of submission,” stated the SICT.

The agency specified that the agreement will enter into force five business days after its publication in the DOF.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo SICT simplifies various procedures in the road and trucking sector apareció primero en T21.