PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Q. ROO.- The demand for logistics and freight transportation services in Mexico is beginning to feel extraordinary pressure, given the increase in volume caused by the effect of nearshoring (relocation of production lines).

Different providers have detected this for some time and have begun to offer new services related to this trend , placing special emphasis on intermodal services.

Ferrovalle , the short line railway terminal inside Mexico City, has witnessed this effect with clear increases in the volume operated in its two divisions.

On the one hand, the railway division adds a 10% annual growth in the volume of railway cars operated in the first six months of this year, where there are 50 thousand additional cars of which they have detected that 12 thousand 500 of them are product of new industrial activity related to nearshoring .

Meanwhile, the intermodal division has had a 30% increase during the same period, with 25 thousand additional containers operated, six thousand of them also identified by nearshoring .

“These are increases in volume never seen before,” said Francisco Fabila, general manager of the company, during his participation in the 24th National Freight Transport Forum organized by the National Association of Private Transport (ANTP) .

He himself promotes the terminal as the “logistical lung” of the country’s capital, since it has a rail connection with the main sea ports, such as Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas and Veracruz , as well as five border crossings between Mexico and the United States. all this either through the main railway lines that operate in the national territory and also with their peers in the northern neighbor.

The capacity of the terminal to receive goods or containers by rail allows its clients, mainly shipping lines, to carry out the last mile through motor transport providers , which reduces polluting gas emissions due to the effect of intermodalism.

Francisco Fabila also said that the company has opened new cross-border services in alliance with North American railway companies, as part of the relocation of companies that have installed their production lines in Mexico, but seek to move these goods to the United States or Canada.

Transmaritime route

Others that seek to take advantage of this increase in the need for transportation of goods as a result of industrial relocation have been  SSA Marine México and  Crowley , through Mexico Gulf Express , a maritime service that connects Mexico with the United States through the Gulf of Mexico waterway. Mexico.

This logistics alliance offers weekly departures from Tuxpan, Veracruz , where SSA has a marine terminal, and arrival in Gulfport, Mississippi, where Crowley also operates its own terminal.

The characteristics of the service include the offer of containers and reefers available, customs clearance, a transit time of three days with the Crowley fleet, service for cargo of all types and sizes, and motor transportation and intermodal services both in the Mexican as in the American.

“Every part of the supply chain has to prepare for that growth,” said Claudia Kattán-Jordán, vice president for Central America, Mexico and Panama at Crowley Logistics, also present at the ANTP forum.

For his part, Iker Allison, vice president of SSA Marine Mexico, indicated that they saw the opportunity “for a long time” to build this transportation alliance with Crowley, motivated in part by the shortage of motor transport drivers – which in Mexico number around of 56 thousand seats available -, “but more than that, we want to provide diversification for the transportation of all merchandise going to the United States.”

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Over the years and the growing demand for quality logistics and transportation services, companies have observed that the digitalization of processes helps them offer increasingly efficient services with a consequent reduction in operating costs and an increase in asset security. and road . The adoption and integration of digital technologies and advanced tools at all stages of the supply chain and fleet management are the natural step to continue competing in an increasingly demanding market.

Based on the principle that technology is an instrument for continuous improvement, Solistica integrated tools from an early age that have helped it eliminate deviations in its operation, as Carlos Alberto Lembo, head of risk management for Solistica, shared with T21.

“Something you don’t measure, you can’t control and what you don’t control you can’t improve. For this reason, in the company we have indicators to begin to control what happens with our units and with the operators, especially to take care of both safety and security risks,” said Lembo.

The company representative stressed that in recent years the transportation of goods and merchandise has experienced a significant increase in the crime of theft, “unfortunately crime goes one step beyond technology, it has become a race against theft , so Solistica has always sought best practices, partnering with technology providers that are capable of meeting our needs, such is the case of Motum , which at our request developed an automatic engine stop that works with geofences,” said Lembo.

This solution, combined with the incorporation of door opening sensors, backup GPS and locks to prevent the boxes from being unhooked, allowed Solistica to significantly reduce theft events that often ended in the loss of merchandise and property. unit. To date, the company averages 10 events a year, of which 50% have been frustrated due to the implementation of technology.

“We understood that if the vehicle and the operator are not protected in the first 60 seconds of the criminal act, the probability of successful recovery is zero percent. But the most important thing is that the vehicle is capable of activating automatically when a risk situation arises,” said the head of risk management for Solistica.

The risk management specialist explained that, although so far Solistica has found the formula to significantly reduce thefts and reinforce road safety, there is always room for improvement , which is why in coordination with Motum they are developing geofences with speed and cutting. accelerator that seeks to prevent road accidents. “At Solistica we seek to ensure that technology always works in favor of the operator to safeguard his integrity,” said Lembo.

Another area that Solistica has reinforced with Motum technology is the telemetry of the units to attend to preventive and corrective maintenance. “We need our trucks to be running in the best conditions and not to be stopped due to a failure. The moment a truck goes out onto the street, visibility is lost and only technology can help us know what is happening with the units ,” stated the manager.

Finally, the risk management specialist shared that to achieve efficient operations it is necessary to record what happens in the fleets. “To improve, it is crucial that companies have indicators, that they are not afraid to say if I was robbed or if I had an accident, because no one is immune, the important thing is to recognize that you have a problem, then attack it with the technologies that they are within reach and partner with a supplier that understands their needs and is capable of accompanying them at all times,” he stated.

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To continue offering transportation and logistics services in the Mexican market, Ryder has strengthened its partnership with Fruehauf as an allied equipment provider that has met the company’s equipment needs for almost two decades.

The comprehensive transportation and management solutions provider recently acquired five 53-foot Fruehauf platforms, as well as five 53-foot dry boxes aimed at expanding Ryder’s fleet. Additionally, it recently placed an order for eight 30-foot dry boxes intended for equipment renewal; in both cases, the boxes are operating on various circuits throughout the country.

“Eighteen years ago, we made our first equipment purchase with Fruehauf. The first equipment we acquired were 48-foot and 53-foot platforms. Since then, we have been convinced by the combination they offer in terms of quality-price, availability to handle special projects or manufacture specialized equipment, and response times,” said Luis Murguía, Senior Operations Director at Ryder.

The latest eight dry boxes acquired by Ryder were manufactured in composite material, feature a rear curtain-type door, translucent roof, and a hydraulic ramp. These units enable product distribution in locations where a 48 or 53-foot box cannot access, as well as improved maneuverability in complicated areas and parking in limited spaces.

“We listen to their needs and the challenges they face when unloading, maneuvering on the streets, and above all, meeting each of the commitments they have with their respective clients. Thanks to customers like Ryder who trust our products and support us year after year, we have been able to establish ourselves as the leading company in semi-trailer sales in Mexico,” commented Rodrigo Arcos, Commercial Director of Fruehauf.

Murguía thanked Fruehauf for their support during challenging times caused by allied equipment shortages during the pandemic period (2020-2023). “This contributed to Ryder being able to fulfill its commitments to our clients.”

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