Highway insecurity has once again become the central issue. Not just as a topic of discussion, but as an operational reality. Blockades on various stretches of road across the country, exposed drivers, and stranded goods have demonstrated that the problem is not merely a matter of perception. It is structural. And in this context, the president of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , Augusto Ramos, outlined a position that attempts to navigate between two lines: acknowledging the official figures while simultaneously admitting that the reality on the roads does not yet align with them.

During the presentation of the results of his first month in office, Ramos outlined the progress made in dialogue sessions, institutional coordination, and actions to address the main challenges of the sector, in an environment marked by road insecurity.

Official data points to a decrease in cargo theft of around 21% by 2025. However, the violence with which these crimes are committed and the vulnerability of drivers continue to put pressure on the sector. “The theft is very aggressive,” Ramos warned, and insisted that the challenge is not only to reduce the number of crimes, but also to better understand what is really happening on the road.

That’s where the contrast emerges. While official figures show a downward trend, reports of extortion, kidnappings, and assaults persist in daily operations . Far from dismissing either perspective, Canacar chose to develop its own.

Since March, the Chamber has begun collecting direct information from companies, operators, insurers and tracking systems, with the intention of cross-referencing it with the authority and, if necessary, confronting it.

The next step will be to institutionalize this process. In its first 100 days in office, the Chamber plans to establish a system for reporting cases of extortion and corruption. The stakes are high: if the reports consistently point to irregularities, they could even lead to the dismissal of public officials .

Meanwhile, the operation continues to set the pace. In March alone, four armed attacks against operators were recorded, one of them fatal. And while direct crime is the focus, road blockades amplify the problem: they stop goods, raise costs, and increase the risk of theft in a country where more than 80% of cargo is moved by road.

This interpretation is complemented by another perspective within the sector. Some companies have reported a decrease in thefts , but this is not necessarily attributable to improved public safety; rather, it stems from increased investment in technology, monitoring, and prevention. This opens a second line of analysis: if the reduction is due more to private strategies than to structural conditions, the underlying problem may persist.

Diesel and structure: the pressure that doesn’t let up

Adding to this pressure is diesel , the other major challenge for the trucking industry . Fuel represents about 30% of operating costs, and any price fluctuation immediately impacts rates. Ramos explained the equation: “For every peso the price of diesel increases, freight costs can rise by around four percent.”

The problem, however, is not within the sector’s control. Ramos acknowledged that fuel prices are driven by global factors , so companies have had to rely on both government incentives and their own operational efficiencies. Even so, the margin is getting narrower.

In this context, the sector’s very structure explains some of its limitations. He stated that more than 215,000 companies hold concessions, according to data from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , but only about 15,000 are formally registered with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) . Furthermore, 97% are micro and small businesses, and more than 80% operate with fewer than five vehicles, Ramos explained.

With that profile, the room for maneuver is limited. Therefore, according to Ramos, Canacar has begun to strengthen its internal operations with 25 committees and 23 commissions, in addition to permanent working groups that seek to address issues such as safety, training, and operational efficiency simultaneously.

At the same time, the Chamber has chosen to strengthen its ties with the industry. Through alliances with manufacturers and suppliers such as Daimler , International , and Cummins , it seeks to provide carriers with training programs, financing, and preferential terms that facilitate fleet renewal, especially in the segment that accounts for more than half of the country’s trucks.

Meanwhile, the sector is also observing the first steps in the fleet renewal program promoted by the federal government. Canacar indicated that it already has the guidelines that will define access to these incentives, focused primarily on micro and small carriers, although it acknowledged that this is only a first step in addressing the structural shortcomings facing the fleet.

Operators: the challenge that keeps growing

But even with these efforts, the sector faces a challenge that cannot be solved solely through financing or regulation: a shortage of drivers . Currently, the deficit exceeds 90,000 drivers, a trend that is not unique to Mexico.

Added to this is the generational shift that is beginning to put pressure on the sector, with almost 15,000 operators retiring , widening the gap between supply and demand. Faced with this scenario, Canacar proposes improving training, increasing the number of new operators trained—currently around 4,000 per year—and incorporating new sources of talent, including migrants.

Faced with this situation, the Chamber’s strategy has focused on three key areas: building its own data, maintaining ongoing dialogue with the authorities, and exerting institutional pressure based on evidence. The intention is clear: to move beyond reaction and toward prevention.

The challenge, however, remains balancing two realities. On the one hand, figures that point to improvements. On the other, an operation that is still perceived as vulnerable. Amid this tension, the trucking industry continues to keep the country moving, while attempting to bring order to a sector facing pressure from all sides.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Karina Quintero  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Insecurity, diesel, and data under pressure: Canacar seeks to regulate the sector apareció primero en T21.

On June 22, 2025, modifications to the Federal Labor Law (LFT) came into effect , which, among other proposals, represented a historic milestone for those who work on digital platforms such as Uber , Didi ,  Rappi , among others, since the reform obliges these applications to offer them contracts and comply with new labor regulations.

In addition, the new measure triggered the registration of workers who offer that service, whether driving a vehicle or as a delivery person, with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) .

According to data from the IMSS, in January of last year there were 22 million 311 thousand 546 workers registered in Social Security , although last July, after the reform, there was a peak, increasing to 22 million 433 thousand 167.

In August they totaled 22 million 454 thousand 917, in September they were 22 million 571 thousand 682, in October 22 million 789 thousand 173, in November 22 million 837 thousand 768, and at the close of 2025 there were 22 million 517 thousand 076 workers registered in the IMSS.

Registrations of Transport and Communications workers on the rise

As for transport and communications workers, there was also an increase in the number of registrations with the IMSS after the reform.

In January 2025, statistics indicated that 1,572,317 workers providing this service had social security coverage; however, registrations skyrocketed in July of last year, peaking in November. No data is available for this sector in December.

In that sense, during the seventh month of 2025, one million 703 thousand 568 transport and communications workers were registered with the IMSS , a category that includes those who carry out some activity through a digital application.

Last August saw a slight decrease compared to the previous month, with 1,699,987 workers, although the number increased again in September, reaching 1,720,043 new registrations with the IMSS (Mexican Social Security Institute). October saw 1,754,489 registrations, and November totaled 1,786,433 transportation and communications workers.

Compared to 2024, the growth reported in 2025 represented an increase of 9.3% in July , 8.8% in August, 9.3% in September, 9.6% in October, and 10.8% in November.

According to IMSS statistics, in the July-November 2025 period, an average increase of 9.5% was observed , which meant a peak in terms of transport and communications workers registered with the IMSS over the average of the January-June cycle, which was 1.8 percent.

According to the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) , work on digital platforms is now recognized as a subordinate employment relationship, and although delivery drivers will maintain their connection flexibility, if they reach at least the minimum monthly wage by working with an application, they will be considered formal employees, and therefore will have the right to social security, as well as Christmas bonus, vacations and profit sharing.

The reform to the Federal Labor Law establishes new obligations for digital platforms, as well as for delivery drivers and other drivers. Among the most significant changes is universal protection against workplace accidents.

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El cargo Digital platform workers are driving IMSS registrations during 2025 apareció primero en T21.

Following an adjustment in February between the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) and the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) to the salary contribution factor for various categories involved in national trucking , a downward adjustment has now been announced for the “Trailer” category.

Through Circular 249/2025, Canacar announced that after multiple meetings between Canacar President Miguel Ángel Martínez Millán and the Directorate of Incorporation and Collection, approval of the adjustment to the contribution factor was achieved at the IMSS Technical Council meeting.

With this measure, the new contribution factor for the “Trailer” category is set at 12.02, with a contribution base salary (BFS) for 2025 of 1,360.40 pesos, up from the previous factor of 13.36, which was 1,511.55 pesos.

“As of October 1, a lower reference factor will be applied to the trailer category, as well as the incorporation of a new category intended to expand the inclusion options for personnel whose work is related to the sector, corresponding to: tie-down workers, loaders, assistants, derrickmen, and lashing personnel.”

One factor that stands out is that these reference factors will only apply to members who are affiliated and current with their Canacar dues.

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El cargo Canacar reaches agreement with IMSS to adjust contribution factor apareció primero en T21.

Last Friday, the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) shared with its partners an agreement with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) , with which a new agreement was reached for the payment of salaries for various jobs in companies in the sector.

“The H. Technical Council of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in its session of February 26, 2025, issued Agreement ACDO.IN2.HCT.260225/53.P.DIR, an agreement reached between the Directorate of Incorporation and Collection of the IMSS and Canacar, in relation to the reference contribution factors, effective as of March 1,” states Canacar Circular 63 of 2025.

In light of this agreement, the president of the National Confederation of Mexican Transporters (Conatram) , Elías Dip Rame, sent a letter to his confederates, but with a direct message to the president of Canacar, Miguel Ángel Martínez, regarding the agreement reached between this institution and the IMSS.

“…regarding the factor that will be applied starting March 1, 2025, upon reviewing it I was surprised by the criminal increase in the contribution FACTORS that must be paid on the date indicated by the trailer operator of $1,511.55 per day, when $725.00 pesos were paid, that is, now it will be more than double,” states the Conatram statement.

The letter states that the increase represents more than 100%, which will not only affect Canacar members, but in Elías Dip’s view, will also affect the rest of the auto transport industry.

The leader of Conatram described the complexities faced by transporters and operators such as insecurity, roadblocks and delays on the routes they face, in addition to highlighting that there are different conditions depending on the regions in which the service is provided.

The message addressed to the president of Canacar specifies that the agreement reached must be reviewed again, and that from Elías Dip’s perspective the adjustment to the base contribution salaries should not experience an increase greater than 5%, which would be consistent with inflation.

Among the lines of action that were announced is the one that Conatram will manage in the Congress of the Union to express the need for its intervention, “I want to make it clear that at no time do we intend to not pay what corresponds to us, based on our income, affiliation and collection from the IMSS,” said Elías Dip in his letter.

El cargo Conatram “clashes” with Canacar over agreement reached with IMSS apareció primero en T21.

The booming growth of the industrial real estate market in northern Mexico, driven by the relocation of production lines (nearshoring) , has led sectors such as diverse manufacturing and the automotive industry to seek to establish themselves in Saltillo, Coahuila, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.

According to a statement from CBRE , a consultancy in office and industrial real estate spaces, in the metropolitan area of ​​Saltillo, these industries added more than 92 thousand square meters (m2 ⁾ of gross absorption or commercialized spaces during the second quarter of 2024 .

The continued demand for space, as well as the delivery of pre-leased buildings, brought the quarterly net absorption to 134 thousand m2 ^, with the half-yearly accumulation reaching 300 thousand m2 ^. The Ramos Arizpe submarket remains the most dynamic in the city, concentrating 60% of the demand during the first half of the year .

The Saltillo industrial market ended the first half of the year with an inventory of 4.69 million m2 ^and the new supply accumulated more than 292 thousand m2 ^during the first half of 2024. Of the total new spaces delivered, only 10 thousand m2 ^were integrated into the available inventory.

At the end of the second quarter of the year, Saltillo’s inventory registered an increase of 125 thousand m2 ^, closing with 4.7 million m2 and an annual increase of 12.6 percent. The Ramos Arizpe industrial corridor continues to dominate the market, as it represents 66% of the total existing inventory, 82% of the new supply delivered and 56% of the current construction activity.

These figures have been driven by the creation of new formal jobs at the end of May, which in Coahuila was 21 thousand positions, according to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) , which has placed this state in sixth place nationwide in this matter.

Another indicator is the increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which totaled more than 921.4 million dollars (mdd) in 2023 in various projects, according to the Ministry of Economy. This amount represented 2.6% of the national total, as well as an annual increase of 5.6 percent.

Diverse manufacturing is positioned as the industrial sector with the highest demand in Saltillo and its metropolitan area at the end of the second quarter of 2024; it was followed by the automotive manufacturing sector with an additional 36 thousand m² of demand.

Regarding the country of origin of these investments, the United States (43%), Canada (20%) and China (19%) lead in gross demand.

Demand for industrial parks in Ciudad Juárez on the rise

Demand for such spaces has also grown in Ciudad Juárez; in the second quarter of 2024 alone, it closed with 15,000 m² of net absorption and accumulated so far this year of 226,700 m², which meant the second largest mid-year net absorption ever recorded.

In the same quarter of this year, it closed with 445 thousand square meters of space under construction, of which 315 thousand m² are speculative.

Completed projects accounted for the majority of absorption in the reference period, although while new vacant inventory has been delivered and more space is being built, the market remained tight as most leasing is occurring within new construction .

There is limited second-generation space available and activity outside of renovations is minimal, plus there are 31 speculative buildings available or under construction across the city.

Industrial demand for market space is in the size range of 3,700 m2 ^to 28,000 m2 ^, and electronics and electrical and medical equipment manufacturing are almost 50% of the demand, driven by nearshoring .

To foster dialogue on the opportunities presented by nearshoring , Grupo T21 will organize the Transportation and Logistics Meeting (ETYL) on October 9 and 10 in Nuevo León. With the central theme “Maximizing logistics opportunities with nearshoring ,” this event will bring together important industry leaders in Mexico.

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El cargo Demand for Industrial Parks Grows Due to Nearshoring in Coahuila and Chihuahua apareció primero en T21.