Estafeta has begun implementing vehicle markings as part of the highway safety strategy  promoted by the  Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT).

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

In theory, beaconing is intended to reduce theft rates. But is it really helping? Most trucking companies already have advanced vehicle monitoring and tracking technologies, so carriers and other industry players have expressed their concerns to T21 about the effectiveness of this regulation and the costs it would entail for the companies .

While the SICT estimates the cost of markings at 250 pesos per unit , companies in the sector claim the actual cost is considerably higher. Although hated by many and accepted by others, markings have made their way into the Mexican trucking industry.

As a result, Estafeta continues to comply with current recommendations, regulations, and standards for trucking , as explained by company leaders during its road safety event. 

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT), including Paulino Herrera, Executive Director of Supervision for the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) , and Jorge Sánchez Núñez, Executive Director of Regulations and Permits for Federal Motor Transport at the DGAF.

Mauricio Salvatori, Estafeta’s national operations director, emphasized the importance of this effort by the company for the safety of transportation in Mexico, as they move more than 300,000 shipments across the country every day.

According to Salvatori, the markings are another step in the efforts the company has made over the years to ensure the safety of its transporters. With a fleet of 7,500 vehicles, the company has begun identifying 2,596 units.

“1,230 trailers, 614 trucks, 462 tractor-trailers, 209 box trucks, and 79 vans. We’re estimating around one million pesos, which is our current program cost, to mark the units,” Salvatori explained.

Although the company is adhering to the regulations , which are not mandatory according to the SICT, Estafeta’s investment costs in marking are still above the 250 pesos per unit estimated by the authority .

Safety beyond beaconing! 

In addition to complying with the regulations on vehicle markings, the company has invested in the use of safety technology , ongoing training for its drivers, and comprehensive support for its operational teams .

During the event, Estafeta ‘s commitment to its employees was highlighted, as several of its operators were awarded the 2024 National Road Safety Award .

“You have to hit the road with a very strong mindset, because you don’t know if you’ll come back,” explained Enrique Bautista, one of the award winners.

With 15 years of experience and a full-size tractor-trailer (double trailer) operator at Estafeta, Bautista commented on what motivates him every day: “the family waiting for him at home.” Despite the risks, he emphasized the importance of the support he receives from the company, especially in the area of ​​safety.

Another award winner was Hugo Manzano, who explained: “The company has given me stability and work. Estafeta’s safety culture is not only found on the routes, but also in the comprehensive support we drivers receive.”

Javier Villanueva , legal manager of Estafeta , emphasized the company’s commitment to implementing measures that go beyond marking.

He explained that one of the pillars of the collaboration with the SICT is the implementation of the Carta Porte Complement , which guarantees the legality and security of the transport of goods, ensuring compliance with legal provisions and strengthening the trust of our customers.

Additionally, he highlighted the successful migration of AICM ‘s air operations to AIFA , which was made possible with the support of the SICT . “This new strategic location has improved efficiency and delivery times, benefiting more than 60 cities in the country,” Villanueva explained.

With a comprehensive focus on protecting its operators, the company remains committed to improving road safety conditions and complying with current regulations, adapting to the challenges of transportation in Mexico.

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El cargo We’ve got it marked! Estafeta is banking on this regulation for its units. apareció primero en T21.

The National Association of Private Transport (ANTP) celebrated the 25th anniversary of the National Road Safety Award (PNSV) , an award that this year was given to 23 companies that have implemented actions for continuous improvement. It also recognized 1,155 operators who have not been involved in road accidents between one and 25 years, and who have no administrative violations.

The PNSV evaluates the degree of implementation of the policies and guidelines established in the Road Safety Management Manual of the administrative and operational areas of cargo transport (management, human resources administration, maintenance, training and vehicles) of the companies that use cargo transport, with their own fleet or that provide cargo service.

Since its inception, ANTP has placed road safety as one of its fundamental pillars. Alex Theissen, president of the association’s board of directors, thanked the effort, training and work of the operators , for making the roads safer places.

Theissen assured that ANTP will continue its commitment to transport in a timely manner the products and raw materials that each Mexican household requires. He assured that ANTP partners will continue working with authorities and sister organizations to continue advancing in improving road safety. “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, that is why it is necessary to work for a safer Mexico ,” he said.

Leonardo Gómez, executive president of ANTP, said that the relevance of the PNSV is vital due to the crucial role it plays in logistics and cargo transportation, road safety and the protection of people.

“Driving a vehicle on the road is considered one of the 10 most dangerous professions in the world, that is why we are supporting training and applauding the efforts made by companies to have more professional people, new generation vehicles with driving assistance technology,” shared Cruz Isaac Muñoz, director of Strategic Analysis of the National Guard .

The representative of the National Guard explained that ANTP partner companies that prioritize training are strategic allies of the civil public security institution to prevent road accidents.

In his opportunity, Luis Ruiz, head of the General Directorate of Federal Auto Transport (DGAF) of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) , assured that auto transport has evolved as part of the production, supply and distribution chains, as well as in the logistical development, planning and control of its operations with the use of technologies in its vehicles, fleet management, information systems and satellite location, among others. However, the most important thing continues to be the human factor to guarantee road and highway safety .

The association therefore acknowledged the contribution of ANTP member companies and operators, as well as the work that the association has carried out over 25 years to promote a culture of safety and responsibility on the country’s roads.

“Throughout its existence, the PNSV has been a pillar for promoting good practices in the transport sector, based on compliance with ISO 39001 standards, protecting operators, their families and road users,” said Luis Ruiz.

Award-winning companies:

• Transportes Monroy Schiavon
• Autotransportes Pilot
• Zinergia
• Transportes Marva
• Transcooler
• Frío Express
• Linde Bulk
• Linde PGP
• Estafeta Mexicana
• Solistica base Navojoa
• Coca-Cola Femsa
• El Palacio de Hierro
• Distribuidora Arca Continental
• Embotelladora Bepensa
• Almex Tepotzotlán
• Almex Monterrey
• Fletes Hesa
• Oxxo
• Barcel
• Bimbo
• Fábrica de Jabón la Corona
• Sigma Alimentos

As one of the award-winning companies, Zinergia has implemented safety strategies and has undertaken awareness campaigns to reduce accidents.

In an interview with T21, Heide Alfaro, deputy director of Zinergia’s Institute for Academic Certification and Business Development (ICADE), said that the company has the STAR (Safety in Transportation, Anticipation and Reaction) program, which has been implementing processes and technology to reduce accidents for four years. Since its founding, the STAR program has helped train approximately 500 operators.

The training program is based on theoretical and practical knowledge, paying special attention to defensive driving, service hours logs and safety indicators with the help of the monitoring corporation, called the Protection and Services Operations Center (COP).

“We have the Cubo Project, which involves cameras installed inside the units with which we monitor the operator during the journey and with which they feel safer,” said Alfaro.

Another company that has opted to reinforce road safety in its operations is Autotransportes Pilot, which has been a PNSV creditor for eight years. However, since the company was founded almost 15 years ago, the strategy has been to reinforce road safety.

“Eight years ago we established a Safety Committee that analyzes the accidents that occur, we reveal the root cause, we determine the functions and activities that each member of the team must perform so that it does not happen again. We have also surrounded ourselves with technology that is helping us prevent accidents. The goal is to continue strengthening all our processes to continue reducing the accident rate to avoid fatal accidents,” said Gerardo Jiménez, general manager of Autotransportes Pilot, in an interview.

Throughout its participation in the PNSV, the company has registered more than 150 operators and in 2024, 35 were awarded. Jiménez told T21 that next year Autotransportes Pilot will modify some strategies to add more operators and reinforce awareness of the importance of driving safety.

“I would invite the entire trucking industry to start working on good practices with their operators, but also to permeate them in all areas of the company. Because not only the operator should be in these programs, we cannot leave the workload to a single operator , when we are all part of it,” said the general director of the transport company.

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El cargo National Road Safety Award recognizes more than a thousand operators and twenty companies apareció primero en T21.