Jorge, a driver with over 20 years of experience and a highly skilled professional in his field , waited on a road in Cuautitlán Izcalli, State of Mexico, for the moment he could access the yard of the client who was to receive his merchandise. That May 10th, Jorge was sending messages to congratulate his mother and the mother of his children, because this demanding profession makes it difficult to be with his family on those holidays.

Shortly after 8:00 p.m., Jorge was the victim of a crime. The criminals quickly entered his tractor-trailer and, at gunpoint , forced him out while they set up jammers to block the signal. This attempt was unsuccessful, as the trucking company’s control tower successfully countered the jammers. The robbery was thus thwarted.

What could have been a success story turned into a tragedy. Days after the incident, Jorge was no longer driving his tractor-trailer; instead, his coffin was inside the vehicle as a kind of tribute. The assailants who had attacked him, in their frustration, beat him to death .

“The meetings with prosecutors and the agreements reached with various governments are not doing any good, insecurity is at its worst level, and what’s worse, they continue to kill our operators, that is the number that we should be publishing as a sector,” says a frustrated transport businessman about the situation that prevails in Mexico.

In response to the publication of official figures from the Mexican government on cargo theft, which show progress and even suggest a decrease of up to 20% so far in 2026 compared to the previous year , all transporters agree that this reduction is not being reflected in the figures, and that it is very easy to report figures that do not match reality.

“Drivers are not a statistic ,” reads an image circulating on social media, where transport business owners are raising their voices in outrage, demanding that these are people who go out to work and deserve to return home. “We demand safety. We demand respect. We demand that they be able to return,” the image emphasizes.

T21 spoke with several business owners about this situation, and the common theme was the indignation at the lack of response from authorities and union representatives to raise awareness that the insecurity situation translates into the death of people, not just the loss of vehicles or merchandise .

On May 17, the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) posted on its social media:

“At Canacar, we deeply regret the incidents that continue to claim the lives of truck drivers… Driver safety must remain a priority. Therefore, we reiterate our commitment to continue working in a coordinated and institutional manner to implement actions that strengthen road safety.”

According to an analysis by The International Road Transport Union (IRU) , the shortage of operators in Mexico will exceed 108,000 jobs in 2028 , and Mexico is one of the countries where there is a severe difficulty in filling these jobs ; among the factors that influence this is precisely the insecurity experienced by the road transport sector .

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El cargo Meetings with prosecutors and agreements with the government do not stop the deaths of operators apareció primero en T21.

The shortage of truck drivers is one of the main structural challenges facing the trucking industry  , and the trend continues to worsen. Figures from the International Road Transport Union (IRU) warn that the sector remains stagnant in talent development and that, by 2028, the shortage of drivers could reach unprecedented levels globally, with more than 106,000 vacancies projected in Mexico alone.

Faced with this scenario, Daimler Truck Mexico and its dealer network are betting on a training model that seeks to give greater structure to the development of operators , with programs ranging from basic training to officially backed certifications.

The effort is neither recent nor improvised. The project, explained Fernando Lascurain, general director of the Daimler Commercial Vehicles Distributors Association (ADAVEC) , took about four years to consolidate. Today, through the Comprehensive Management Center (Cedemi), a 180-hour course is offered to people with no experience operating tractor-trailer trucks , as well as training programs for instructors and online training through the company’s platform.

Erika Paz, Senior Marketing Manager for Daimler Truck Mexico, explained that part of the strategy is being developed in conjunction with organizations such as the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) and the Industrial Job Training Centers (Cecati) , through the loan of trucks for operator training. Under this program, nearly 800 operators were trained last year .

One of the differentiating factors, they agreed, is the institutional support . The courses are recognized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , and are also integrated under quality standards such as ISO 9001, which gives them curricular value.

The strategy also extends to operations. The model aims to connect the manufacturer with its distributor network to offer comprehensive solutions to customers, in an environment where the availability of operators directly impacts business continuity.

In this context, training ceases to be a complement and becomes one of the main drivers for sustaining the operation of the trucking industry . Because the problem is no longer just attracting talent, but training it and doing so on time.

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El cargo Daimler Truck Mexico promotes talent development in response to a shortage of truck drivers apareció primero en T21.

CANCÚN, Q. ROO.- The Transportation Services Index (TSI) , carried out by the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and which measures the demand for freight services, averaged a total of 137.57 points in 2023, by 2024 this indicator dropped to levels of 136.84 and in the first seven months of 2025 it stood at 137.23 units.

The United States is facing a phenomenon known as the “Great Freight Recession ,” which combines very flat demand for transportation services, falling service rates , and rising operating costs , leading to the collapse of several companies.

In this context, there is an increase in companies with services with operators called B1 (who have a United States visa), and can perform international transport services, that is, services that have as origin-destination a point in the United States or Mexico, but that cannot perform cabotage service, that is, connecting two or more points in the United States with cargo that is not international .

According to experts from Mexico, the United States, and Canada, the market situation has prompted some Mexican companies with B1 operators to meet the needs of shippers in the United States, who, in order to pay low rates, use operators with this status for cabotage. “It is not normal for a B1 operator to take up to four weeks to return to Mexico ,” some businesspeople consulted agree.

Within the framework of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) National Convention , the panel “The USMCA under review: What’s at stake for national freight transportation?” was held . One of the topics discussed was the situation faced by foreign operators in the United States.

Last August, a traffic accident occurred in Florida involving a truck and a private vehicle, resulting in the deaths of several family members. “What happened in Florida has raised questions about whether licensing is being done correctly ,” said Ed Gilroy, Chief Advocacy and Public Affairs Officer of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) .

In this regard, Martín Rojas, Senior Advisor for the Americas of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , stressed that the United States must strengthen its oversight to ensure that B1 licenses are being used correctly, as a way of protecting the operators themselves , who in some cases are left helpless by their companies when a situation arises.

From the participants’ perspective, the situation with B1 operators must be prioritized to avoid impacting the mobility of goods within the United States and to prevent them from spreading schemes like those in some entities, which seek to limit the operations of transport units to operators with foreign licenses . This situation, from the perspective of Greg Arndt, Co-Owner & Vice President Jade Transport Ltd. and the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) , goes against the trade facilitation that is required as a region.

Manuel Sotelo, vice president of Canacar’s Northern Region, emphasized that one demand from the trucking industry for authorities in the North American region is that greater trade facilitation be urgently needed to allow for closer integration with the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

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El cargo B1 permits for motor transport operators must be used correctly: specialists apareció primero en T21.

In the most recent State of Connected Operations Report: “Behind the Wheel: Distracted Driving in Physical Operations,” conducted by Samsara , 1,550 operators from seven different countries were surveyed, 150 of whom were in Mexico. It was found that eight out of 10 were at risk of an accident due to operating mobile devices while driving.

“Cell phone use alone is one of the main risk factors, which shows us that employers have a responsibility and an opportunity,” said Brendali López, Marketing Director of Samsara in Mexico.

From the executive’s perspective, Samsara identifies an area of ​​opportunity in the processes that can be implemented and the security policies that can be outlined, based on the use of cameras as a support tool for operators, who sometimes have to deal with instructions via mobile phones, which can become a risky situation.

Among the findings of the State of Connected Operations Report is that operators have already accepted the use of cameras in the cabs of tractor-trailers, precisely because they have realized the benefits to their operations that this entails, “and not just that they are monitoring me or that they want to audit me ,” López emphasized.

In addition to the above, greater awareness and sensitivity are also being generated regarding the responsibility of sharing the roads, and technological tools are key to achieving safer operations.

In the latter, the study conducted by Samsara identified that when drivers view video captured by cameras and see their driving habits , it helps them improve and adjust their driving.

One element highlighted in the Samsara report is that the use of technology, and dash cams in particular, contributes to driver retention efforts, as 87% of drivers in the study stated. According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , the driver shortage represented 99,000 jobs in Mexico by 2024.

Brendali López emphasized that for companies that leverage the data generated by technology, it allows them to move from penalizing drivers to fostering better driving habits, “by extracting videos and generating training flows that translate into better processes and, consequently, better service.”

When seeking to identify what is the motivating factor for the incorporation of this type of technology in trucking companies today, Brendali said that from her perspective it is a holistic solution, where although it has a productivity effect that helps operators want to work in this company because it translates into income, “but also if we talk about safety , it results in accident prevention, which more than material savings, impacts lives . “

In addition, it has an impact on work culture, enabling better training processes and leveraging technology to achieve better results, as already mentioned regarding retention.

These results have also contributed to the operator’s voice being heard more and have even become a decision-making factor in the purchase of this type of technology.

“The study shows us that (operators) are already an influential factor in organizations’ decisions, because they are a strong, powerful voice, which also keeps these physical operations moving,” Brendali López emphasized.

Findings from the State of Connected Operations Report: “Behind the Wheel: Distracted Driving in Physical Operations,” regarding Mexican operators:

• 83% are often distracted by their personal mobile devices.
• Within the 83% percentage:
  • 33% make calls.
  • 28% check social networks.
  • 28% read messages.
• 80% of them have experienced a “near miss.”
• 71% of drivers have to use their mobile device for work tasks.
• 95% of operators receive training and advice through the implemented technologies.

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El cargo Technology, key to operator retention and process improvement: Samsara apareció primero en T21.

June 25, the date set by the administration of Donald Trump , President of the United States, to strictly implement the measure, marked the beginning of a stricter phase.

“In the last week, we’ve already started to see outages, something we hadn’t seen before,” confirmed Israel Delgado, vice president of the Northwest Region of the  National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) in an interview .

Since the provision was announced, the industry knew it needed to act urgently. In Delgado’s words, companies were forced “to urgently seek different means to begin operator training .”

The reason is simple: without support, many could be left “out-of- service.”

And that scenario is already underway. Inspections in Texas , and to a lesser extent in California, have begun to include observations stating that the driver is “unable to communicate in English,” Delgado explained.

While these warnings do not yet carry an immediate penalty , they do anticipate that, in a second review, the operator may be removed from service if they do not demonstrate progress or ongoing training.

“The warning doesn’t have an immediate consequence, but rather warns us that a second inspection could result in the vehicle being taken out of service,” said Delgado, who also noted that they have already detected specific cases of sanctions.

To date, there is no official count of how many operators have been reviewed or sanctioned. However, Delgado confirmed that contacts have been made with U.S. government agencies to compile this data. “We do not currently have this information,” he stated.

What is clear is the challenge. According to estimates, around 80% of operators still lack sufficient English to handle these inspections. Therefore, the call to action is not only for drivers, but for the entire industry.

“If companies don’t help operators comply with this rule, what we’re going to see is a lot of outages,” he warned.

Some are already responding, from in-person and virtual training to the use of technological tools to accelerate learning, including Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based approaches.

Furthermore, he anticipated that not only could more cases of suspension be seen, but also possible financial penalties.

“Starting today, we anticipate we’ll begin to see an increase in these types of rules or sanctions, out-of-service, and possibly financial penalties,” he explained.

Language is no longer an added value, but rather part of the minimum qualifications. Speaking English is now the entry pass for operating on the other side of the Mexican border.

The numbers don’t lie. The change is significant. In the state of Wyomingalone , between October 2023 and September 2024, 410 violations related to drivers’ lack of English proficiency were documented, according to US government data . Although not all of those cases involved B1 drivers.

Meanwhile, across the border, the exchange of goods continues unabated. From January to April 2025, trade in goods between Mexico and the United States exceeded $285 billion , according to figures from the government of Mexico . More than a number, this daily flow represents thousands of operators crossing, delivering, returning, and keeping two economies that depend on each other moving.

But while the United States tightens entry restrictions, Mexico is experiencing its own paradox. According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , the country closed 2024 with more than 99,000 operator vacancies . Given this situation, some see these restrictions as an opportunity: if operators who fail to cross return to domestic routes, they could begin to close a gap that has remained unresolved for years.

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El cargo From warning to reality, B1 operators are already being taken out of service in the US apareció primero en T21.

“The figures are alarming” when it comes to transportation insecurity : every half hour a cargo unit is stolen and every 47 minutes a traffic accident occurs, explained Alberto Lecona , general director of ARC Soluciones .

“Every 33 minutes, an operator suffers a highway robbery. This disrupts the logistics chain and increases insurance rates,” Lecona warned in an interview with T21 .

And he’s not exaggerating, because every theft hits businesses, but also the entire logistics system . According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) ,  trucking  remains the primary mode of transportation in Mexico, contributing 76.1% and moving  58.3% of national freight , consolidating its position as a pillar of the Mexican economy.

Furthermore, its impact is reflected in 5.9% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the creation of more than  2.3 million direct jobs .

The executive believed there was a generational shift underway: children of truckers are now trained in business administration and understand that prevention means saving. From his position, Lecona proposed a combination of technology, training, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) .

“We can’t continue to have people sitting in front of a screen without any methodology. We’re promoting monitoring as an exception, with heat maps and integrated alerts from multiple GPS systems,” he explained.

Technology also plays a key role in the security strategy. Among the tools Lecona highlighted are AI-powered cameras , capable of identifying weapons or the presence of strangers inside units, enabling automatic alerts.

For him, security must be approached with strategy and discipline, with no room for improvisation.

But beyond policy savings and operational efficiency, the specialist highlighted the human value of prevention.

“Fewer road accidents mean fewer deaths. That makes us a socially responsible company. Not because of the logo, but because of the lives saved,” he said.

The history of ARC Solutions is also one of resilience and innovation. What began as an insurance firm has transformed into a comprehensive ecosystem with 24/7 support , training, and claims consulting.

“I don’t just sell price, I sell service at a good price,” said Lecona, who explained that this philosophy has allowed him to forge a path in a sector where trust is earned through results. Some accounts took him up to 10 years, but today they have been working together for six or more.

Now, ARC Soluciones also aims to train operators . The company seeks to become a formal training center that helps close the gap of more than 99,000 vacancies in the sector , as reported by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) .

“We want the carrier to be able to say, ‘Train 10 operators,’ and we’ll prepare them. That’s the vision: to professionalize from the ground up,” he said.

With 19,000 insured units and 6,000 trained personnel , ARC Soluciones is an active player in road safety, a strategic ally for Mexican transporters, and a project that, according to Lecona, is just beginning to gain momentum.

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El cargo Auto transport alert: a robbery occurs every half hour apareció primero en T21.

In response to the growing shortage of operators in Mexico, Samsara has introduced a new feature within its connected operations platform: ” Recognition ,” a tool designed to strengthen talent retention, the company reported in a press release.

The tool, as its name indicates, seeks to recognize good driving performance without increasing the administrative burden on fleets .

In Mexico, the driver shortage reached 56,000 positions in 2023 alone, equivalent to 9% of the total, and this figure is expected to rise to 106,000 by 2028 if no measures are taken.

While according to the  International Road Transport Union (IRU) , by 2024, the shortage of operators was 99,000 in Mexico.

In this context, Samsara is pursuing an operator-centric strategy, offering a system that allows managers to identify and celebrate safe behaviors in real time, thereby improving staff morale and engagement.

“Recognition represents a shift in how fleets can foster a culture of safety,” said Johan Land, Samsara’s senior vice president of Product and Engineering.

Through its driver app, operators can view their achievements, while managers access mobile dashboards for immediate feedback. The tool integrates directly into the Samsara ecosystem, requiring no additional software.

According to the company, organizations such as DHL, Home Depot , and the city of Memphis in the United States have significantly reduced incidents and staff turnover by implementing these solutions.

Similarly, in the case of Trades Holding Co. , its fleet director, Nick Mattocks, highlighted that “Recognition” transformed its safety culture by not only allowing it to correct risky behaviors, but also to reward good habits.

With this tool, Samsara aims to transform recognition from an occasional occurrence to a daily part of fleet operations.

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El cargo Samsara launches tool to recognize drivers and strengthen road safety apareció primero en T21.

Like a television series with endless seasons, the story of the shortage of trucking operators in Mexico has developed over time, but its outcome remains uncertain.

The worrying thing is that this is not fiction, but the reality of the trucking industry , which is constantly growing, chapter after chapter, with increasingly intense dramas.

Vacancies are increasing and drivers are becoming fewer , and although efforts are being made to find solutions, the shortage persists, and with it, the consequences for the sector and the economy are becoming more serious.

In this real-life series, Mexico is the leading stage for the rise of this shortage , which leads to a deterioration in the country’s competitiveness.

Figures presented by  the International Road Transport Union (IRU) show that, instead of advancing, the sector is stagnating, and projections for 2028 warn that the shortage of operators could reach unprecedented global levels, with more than 106,000 vacancies .

The shocking chapters of this story focus on 2024, according to IRU. In that year, Mexico faced a crisis that cannot be ignored: more than 99,000 driver vacancies , equivalent to 15% of the available positions in the country. This figure is a significant increase compared to the 56,000 vacancies recorded in 2023, reflecting the growing driver shortage and underscoring the magnitude of the problem.

But this country is not the only one affected, however, its reality is particularly serious , ranking second with the greatest lack of operators, only below Europe .

As the global driver shortage crisis continues, the challenge of filling vacancies in key countries remains daunting. According to the IRU 2024 report , 78% of companies in Mexico are facing severe or very severe difficulties filling driver positions, a significant increase from 67% in 2023 .

This phenomenon is not unique to Mexico, as Argentina , Turkey , and Australia face similar challenges, with 57% of companies in Argentina , 61% in Turkey , and 43% in Australia reporting serious difficulties. Although the situation appears to be improving slightly in Europe and Uzbekistan , the projections remain discouraging, indicating that the shortage is a structural problem worldwide.

Women in trucking, a challenge

The representation of women in trucking remains extremely low worldwide, and Mexico is no exception. According to the IRU 2024 Report, women represent only 1.9% of truck drivers in Mexico. Meanwhile, the United States ranks as the country with the highest female participation, at 6.9%.

Female representation in this sector is urgently needed, as the lack of female participation limits recruitment options and adds pressure to a crisis that already faces serious difficulties in attracting new drivers.

Working conditions, a lack of safe infrastructure, and a negative image of the profession are some of the most cited reasons for this shortage. Long hours away from home, poor infrastructure for female drivers, and the treatment received at delivery points are additional barriers that hinder the integration of more women into the sector.

The IRU report highlights that, despite efforts by some countries and companies to improve the inclusion of women in the sector, the figure remains disproportionately low.

Causes of the shortage of operators in Mexico

The generational gap in the trucking sector remains one of the biggest challenges. In 2024, only 10.2% of drivers in Mexico are under 25 years old , while 31.6% are over 55 .

This generational mismatch is reflected globally, with Spain and Australia recording high percentages of older drivers (50% and 47%, respectively). According to IRU, 3.4 million truck drivers are expected to retire in the countries studied over the next five years , further exacerbating the driver shortage crisis.

Working conditions still lack attractive incentives for young people. Long wait times at charging stations, a lack of adequate infrastructure for drivers, and the physical and emotional demands of the job contribute to high staff turnover.

Meanwhile, 30% of operators are approaching retirement, creating a talent gap that is difficult to fill.

Amid this situation, Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General of the IRU, warned that “there is no magic bullet to resolve the crisis, but we must close the widening age gap and treat drivers with more respect and dignity. Young drivers are very satisfied: therefore, it’s not about retention, but about improving access to the driving profession and its attractiveness, especially for young people.”

Road insecurity also plays a key role in driving the driver shortage. In its 2022 report, the IRU highlighted that cargo theft and road violence are factors that discourage drivers and contribute to their abandonment of the profession.

The constant risk of falling victim to these acts is driving many operators to seek safer alternatives, leaving Mexico’s routes empty.

Regarding this issue, the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERPV) warned that in March 2025, theft from heavy vehicles was the main target, with 146 incidents in that month alone.

As the sector faces these challenges, the IRU has proposed several key solutions. Improving working conditions, road safety, and the inclusion of women and youth in the sector are priority areas.

“The driver shortage isn’t just a concern for freight transport; it’s a global economic crisis affecting supply chains,” said Umberto de Pretto.

With projections unfolding as an unexpected plot twist , the operator shortage continues to worsen, but the future still holds potential for change. The next chapter in this story can bring solutions, provided action is taken swiftly and decisively. Ensuring the sector has a diverse , secure , and well-compensated workforce is essential , as this is the only way to ensure a positive ending to this story .

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El cargo Mexico, the protagonist of the growing shortage of operators in the trucking industry apareció primero en T21.

For the ninth time, the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar)awarded the Canacar Distinction to 326 companies that have processes, policies, programs and actions that contribute to the professionalization of the sector , under the program “Transporting the Country, Transporting Mexico.” Likewise, during 2024, 9,344 people were trained and 3,842 DC-3 certificates were issued.

This year, companies received 383 awards , of which 56 were at the basic level, 52 at the intermediate level, and 48 at the advanced level. In turn, 70 awards were given to companies for successfully completing the Financial Education diploma, 44 in the Cargo Transportation Economics diploma, 35 in the Human Factor: Key Element in Organizations diploma, 30 in the Energy Efficiency in Cargo Transportation diploma, and 48 in the Technical Assistance Tools for your Business diploma.

“The Canacar Distinctive not only symbolizes the efforts of our affiliated companies, but also reflects the strength and evolution of all the country’s cargo transportation sectors. Today we celebrate those who take on the challenge of professionalization, adopting best practices that strengthen our operation and prepare us to face a future full of challenges and opportunities. We are living a crucial moment for our industry due to the nearshoring phenomenon that is transforming the commercial dynamics of the entire world and our country is at the center of all the change,” said Miguel Ángel Martínez Millán, national president of Canacar.

This year the program has trained 9,125 people , of which 536 were in tools and technical assistance, 484 in energy efficiency, 2,064 in human factor, 1,342 in economics, 411 in financial education, 669 at advanced level, 1,919 at intermediate level and 1,700 at advanced level.

For his part, Luis Ruiz, head of the General Directorate of Federal Auto Transport (DGAF) of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) , acknowledged that the Canacar Distinction is key to the development of auto transport in Mexico and represents an example of collaboration between the private sector and government agencies to achieve the common goal of advancing the professionalization of human resources.

In his turn, Alejandro Malagón, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of the United Mexican States (Concamin) , stressed the urgency of solving road insecurity. “We have to put an end to the theft of goods, threats and extortion, we demand an end to insecurity and impunity. There is no safe Mexico without safe roads, no more drivers can be harmed,” he said.

Another key issue is infrastructure maintenance. Malagón said that it is not acceptable that two out of every three kilometers of federal highway are in poor condition . Finally, he said that it is crucial to address the lack of operators and the renewal of the vehicle fleet.

IRU recognizes operators

As part of the Canacar Distinction Award ceremony, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) recognized the work of operators with the honorary diploma. This year, 573 operators were recognized for their excellent driving and safety records .

This award is given to drivers who have driven professionally and safely for a minimum of one million kilometres nationally or internationally, without causing any serious accident involving bodily injury, over the past 20 years.

The national president of Canacar stressed that cargo transportation plays a fundamental role in the growth of each nation, by promoting trade, employment, security and environmental protection.

“In order for operators to continue carrying out their work, it is necessary to have a good road infrastructure, modern units with high technology to reduce road accidents and to protect the environment. It is also necessary to have safe rest stops that provide comfort, but above all, safety. These factors are decisive for operators, which is why we are committed to improving the working conditions for each and every one of the operators,” said Martínez Millán.

For his part, Martín Rojas, senior advisor for the Americas at IRU, said that it is crucial for the organization to reinforce the importance of the sector in the world. “At a global level, cargo transport represents between 70 and 90% of all cargo transport, this could not be done without operators, so it is essential to focus on professionalization, infrastructure, road safety and digitalization,” he said.

He also commented that the joint work between the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Canadian Trucking Alliance and Canacar will continue to work on common issues such as the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) , because without freight transport this treaty could not be a reality, since it participates in 70% of the cargo movements between the three countries.

“Let us continue to promote the essentiality of our industry and, above all, of our operators,” Rojas said.

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El cargo Canacar 2024 Distinction recognizes 326 transportation companies apareció primero en T21.

CANCUN, Q. ROO. – Freight trucking dominates trade in North America. According to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) , last July, U.S. trade with its partners reached 134.2 billion dollars (mdd), of which 86.9 billion dollars were operated by trucking.

In a global environment where the United States has increased the protection of its market with new tariff schemes for China , but also due to the definition of the presidential elections in the United States, auto transport could have an impact.

Within the framework of the National Convention of the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) , representatives of the transportation industry in Mexico, the United States and Canada presented the challenges facing the activity , where the political scenario in the United States is one that will be most closely followed.

Bob Costelo, vice president of the American Trucking Association (ATA) , recalled that the commercial ties between Mexico and the United States mean that on average, each day, the trucking units that cross both countries transport more than 1.5 billion dollars.

For this reason, Costelo anticipated that he is concerned about the threats of border closures because of the impact it may have on trade. In his view, regardless of who wins the presidency of the United States, it is clear that both candidates do not agree with the current trade policy and the tariff tool that has been implemented.

In Costelo’s view, the imposition of tariffs on China will be reflected in increased movements of auto transport between Mexico and the United States, as well as in the Mexican economy, although he did not fail to recognize the threat posed by measures such as the recent one by Donald Trump and his intention to impose 200% tariffs on John Deere if it moves production to its facilities in Nuevo León and Coahuila.

Based on data from the United States Department of Commerce , in the cumulative period January – July 2024, Mexico remains the main trading partner of the United States with 486 billion dollars in the referred period, and which is the result of being the second importer only behind Canada, and the first exporter to that territory with 291 billion dollars.

In addition to the situation that may arise, representatives of the transportation industry recognized that trade at the borders must be streamlined , where inefficiencies impact regional productivity.

Manuel Sotelo, Vice President of the Northern Region of Canacar, emphasized that commercial streamlining requires the development of infrastructure , updating the current infrastructure and reviewing where necessary; the review technologies to be more precise in inspections; as well as the necessary personnel to meet operational needs.

In this regard, Martín Rojas, senior advisor for the Americas for the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , recalled that at one point a 24-hour pilot program was implemented at customs with Customs Border Protection (CBP) , however, there were no operations at times like 2 am.

Manuel Sotelo recalled that this type of program must have a broader horizon, since with a duration of six months it is difficult for companies to modify their operating structures in such a short time.

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El cargo North American Trucking Industry Keeps an Eye on U.S. Political Definition apareció primero en T21.