Faced with an economic scenario marked by increased operating costs, trucking companies face the challenge of maintaining their profitability without affecting the competitiveness of their services, a situation that is changing their business priorities.

For Autotransportes Pilot , the end of 2026 and the outlook for next year will be focused on strengthening operational efficiency , rather than accelerating growth.

Marleth Montaño, the company’s general manager, explained that current macroeconomic conditions have led to a rethinking of the company’s objectives, with the intention of making better use of available resources and building a more profitable operation.

“It’s no longer about accelerated growth; it’s more about being more efficient with what we have and trying to improve so that, when the economy stabilizes, we can already have better profitability,” he said.

Among the main pressures facing the operation, Montaño identified the increased cost of diesel and tolls , two components that directly impact the costs of transporting goods.

According to the National Producer Price Index (INPP), prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , the price of freight transport increased by 0.18% monthly and showed an annual variation of 3.56% in September 2026.

However, Montaño explained that passing on all of these increases to customers is not always an option, so companies must look for ways to absorb some of the variations through internal improvements.

“The more efficient we are, the less we pass on 100% of these cost increases to the customer,” he stated.

The executive highlighted that another key element in Pilot’s operation is the ability to adapt its services to the requirements of each client, without compromising the safety of the cargo or the operators.

In this context, efficiency is emerging as a priority for the company heading into 2027, in an environment where containing costs and preserving profitability are more important than rapidly expanding operations.

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El cargo Trucking companies prioritize efficiency over rising costs: Pilot apareció primero en T21.

Delivering faster, reaching virtually all of Mexico, and maintaining competitive prices without sacrificing service quality are some of the main challenges facing the courier and parcel delivery industry in the country. Given this scenario, Estafeta is considering investments and a redesign of its logistics networks to strengthen its operations and sustain its growth in the coming years.

Fátima Verdugo, director of Courier and Parcel services at Estafeta, explained that market demands force companies in the sector to find a balance between speed, coverage, operational efficiency and costs, without losing sight of customer needs .

“The challenge we have in operations is to have a tremendously competitive operation, a very good cost of service, without demeaning the service,” he said in an interview with T21.

The executive emphasized that one of the biggest challenges is serving virtually the entire country with increasingly shorter delivery times and competitive prices . This requires maintaining an efficient operation that meets the needs of both those who contract the services and those who receive the shipments.

Investments with a long-term vision

As part of its growth plans, Verdugo announced that the company is considering investments and modifications to the configuration of its logistics networks, as well as to the way cargo is connected.

“Estafeta will continue to grow, it has very interesting investment plans, redesigning our networks, and the way we connect cargo,” he stated.

Although he did not specify amounts or specific projects, he indicated that these investments seek to bolster the organization’s growth for the next five to ten years.

He maintained that, despite the challenges facing the country, Estafeta remains willing to continue investing in Mexico and transforming its operations.

Another element he highlighted was safety, which he identified as the company’s main value and a priority that must be maintained in operational decisions.

Service beyond delivery

For Verdugo, courier and parcel services are not limited to the transport of a shipment, but are part of a broader value chain, in which the service helps to connect businesses and people.

From their perspective, enthusiasm for work and attention to people are fundamental to achieving the organization’s goals.

“Thinking about people is crucial; it’s like knowing that your work makes a difference for others,” he said.

In this way, Estafeta’s plans aim to strengthen an operation that faces increasing demands : improving delivery times and maintaining competitive costs, without compromising service quality or customer service.

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El cargo Estafeta is considering investments and a redesign of its logistics networks apareció primero en T21.

Previously, maintaining the cold chain seemed to have a very specific mission: preserving the correct temperature from origin to destination. Today, that’s no longer enough. Fleets need to know the unit’s location, what’s happening inside the cargo box, how many times its doors have been opened, whether the equipment requires maintenance, and even if an alert justifies halting the journey.

The information is there. The challenge now is to use it .

Despite the progress of digitalization in transportation , a gap still exists in leveraging the data generated by equipment. José Carlos Gómez, commercial director of Thermo King Latin America North, estimated that between 15% and 18% of their clients currently use these tools, while one of the main obstacles continues to be resistance to change within companies.

But the decision to digitize operations is no longer solely the responsibility of the fleets. Customers themselves are raising their demands and, in some cases, are requesting temperature tracking of goods from the moment they leave the premises until they reach their destination as part of their receiving and payment processes.

In dry cargo, a delay can mean lost hours and additional costs. In temperature-controlled cargo, it can also mean putting the product at risk. A temperature fluctuation, an unexpected door opening, or a malfunction during transit can compromise goods that must travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometers before reaching the consumer.

In this sense, digitalization allows for monitoring what happens to the merchandise and is also becoming a tool for keeping the truck operational. Available systems allow for tracking location, speed, temperature, and door openings, but also for identifying maintenance needs and determining whether an alarm requires halting operations or can be addressed after the trip is completed.

For Gómez, this is part of the value of using available information to anticipate interventions and avoid unnecessary shutdowns . He also believes that technological infrastructure is no longer the main obstacle to doing so.

Fifteen years ago, he explained, leaving an urban center could mean losing connectivity. Today, he noted, Mexico has better cellular coverage, so the challenge has shifted to within the companies themselves.

An increasingly long cold chain

The challenge will grow as the way perishable products are distributed changes.

Rising temperatures, urban deliveries, and the need to bring goods closer to increasingly specific points of consumption are creating opportunities for smaller vehicles, electrification, and new temperature-controlled solutions. Gómez even predicts that these systems will begin to expand to units such as motorcycles and, eventually, drones.

Thermo King currently offers electric solutions, connected digital equipment and systems supported by solar panels, in addition to traditional diesel technologies that have incorporated improvements focused on reducing consumption.

The company, part of Trane Technologies and with over 90 years of history, focuses on temperature-controlled transportation solutions and operates through a network of distributors. In Latin America, it has over 6,000 units connected to its systems.

Thus, for refrigerated fleets, the next competitive advantage might not only be in adding more units or incorporating new equipment, but in making sure that every kilometer traveled also generates information capable of improving the next one.

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El cargo Refrigerated fleets face the challenge of turning data into operational efficiency: Thermo King apareció primero en T21.

Telemetry is ceasing to be a tool focused solely on tracking units and is becoming a support for operational decision-making within trucking companies , by allowing the analysis of vehicle performance and the detection of factors that directly impact the cost per kilometer.

The information generated by vehicles can become a tool to stop depending solely on perceptions , as explained by Jorge Estrada, commercial director of AnzenTec , who pointed out that the analysis of more than 200,000 kilometers traveled by cargo units was carried out from data obtained directly from the engines through telemetry systems, which allow information to be transmitted in real time to evaluate the performance of operations.

Among the indicators that can be monitored are fuel efficiency, speed, revolutions per minute (RPM) , accelerator pressure, idling time, range and operating behavior, variables that influence the operational performance of the units.

Estrada emphasized that one of the main findings of the analysis was that fuel savings do not depend exclusively on the type of energy used , but also on the way the vehicle is driven.

According to the specialist, efficient operation—maintaining appropriate speeds, avoiding unnecessary accelerations, and operating the engine within recommended ranges—can translate into better performance and lower operating costs.

In contrast, he indicated that excessive speed , high engine revolutions, and constant acceleration increase fuel consumption and reduce the unit’s efficiency, regardless of the technology used.

The executive added that the information generated by telemetry also allows real-time knowledge of aspects such as available range, fuel level and vehicle operating conditions, facilitating route planning, unit tracking and maintenance scheduling.

Furthermore, he highlighted that the use of operational data helps to identify opportunities for improvement in the driving of operators and to establish performance indicators that can translate into lower costs for fleets .

For Estrada, the value of these tools lies in transforming large volumes of information generated by vehicles into decisions that allow for improved productivity and profitability of transport operations.

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El cargo Telemetry: From engine data to cost-reduction decisions in trucking apareció primero en T21.

In the trucking industry , not all costs are related to fuel, maintenance, or tolls; there are processes that, although routine, directly impact the profitability of the operation. One of these is the cleaning of the vehicles.

Every time a truck enters the wash, it’s taken off the road . At that moment, it stops generating revenue and becomes another operating cost. The problem is that, in many cases, this downtime isn’t measured or managed as part of business efficiency, explained Marco Arciniega, Special Business Coordinator at Karcher Mexico .

In an interview with T21, he emphasized that traditional washing – by hand or with a pressure washer – can take between one and one and a half hours per unit, with water consumption around 1,500 liters.

When comparing methods, Arciniega explained that semi-mechanized processes can reduce processing times to about 30 minutes, while automated systems allow for a reduction to around 10 minutes per unit. The difference is not only operational: it also impacts the number of units that can be serviced in a day .

In terms of water consumption, he noted that the most advanced systems integrate recycling schemes that allow for the reuse of between 80% and 85% of the resource , compared to the high levels of use in conventional methods. This point is particularly relevant in a context where water availability is beginning to put pressure on operations in different regions of the country.

In terms of costs, he explained that manual washing can involve expenses of around 900 pesos per unit for labor and materials, while automated models significantly reduce that amount. However, beyond the savings, the emphasis was placed on productivity: the time the units remain out of operation.

In addition to the operational aspect, Arciniega said that cleanliness also impacts the perception of the service. A vehicle in visibly well-maintained condition projects greater confidence and quality to customers and users, an element that, although intangible, is part of competitiveness.

In a sector pressured by costs, insecurity, and a shortage of drivers, optimizing downtime is gaining traction in the conversation. Cleaning, beyond being a routine task, is emerging as an additional factor in the efficiency of trucking.

The difference is that, as companies seek greater control over their costs and operations, processes like this cease to be secondary and become strategic decisions . What is currently measured as an operating expense could become a direct indicator of productivity and sustainability within the sector.

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El cargo Vehicle washing: a cost that impacts the operation of the trucking industry apareció primero en T21.

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Logistics operations in Mexico face increasing pressures that force companies to rethink the management of their fleets, in an environment where costs, insecurity and operational efficiency have become determining factors, explained Luis Larrea, senior regional manager of Field Engineering at Samsara Mexico.

At The Logistics World Summit & Expo , Larrea explained that eight out of every ten products consumed in the country are transported through the logistics sector , while 72% of the national economy depends on foreign trade , highlighting the importance of trucking to economic activity. However, this dynamism coexists with rising costs: fuel prices have increased by 16.7% , while insurance premiums have risen between 15% and 20%.

Adding to this context is the issue of insecurity. Between January and October 2025, 5,200 robberies were recorded on Mexican highways , according to data from Samsara, with estimated losses of between 7 and 10 billion pesos annually.

Given this scenario, technological adoption is becoming increasingly important. Currently, 48% of fleets already use artificial intelligence (AI) , although its implementation requires clear objectives and a defined strategy to generate value in operations.

One of the main challenges remains fuel, which can represent between 30% and 50% of operating costs . In this respect, even marginal reductions can translate into significant impacts on profitability.

Operational visibility is positioned as a key element. Tools such as telematics, process digitization, in-cab cameras with alerts , operator training programs, and monitoring systems allow for improved operational control, optimized routes, and more efficient cost management, Larrea explained.

In particular, measuring idling speed and fuel consumption becomes critical . Identifying unnecessary expenses, analyzing driving habits, and differentiating between productive and unproductive idling allows for performance improvements, cost reductions, and real-time operational visibility.

Concrete examples reflect these benefits. Companies like Potosinos have reported a 23% increase in delivery time productivity , as well as a 20% reduction in fuel leaks and a 7% reduction in operator turnover .

In terms of fleet utilization , monitoring key performance indicators—such as productive hours, unit usage, maintenance, and route management—allows for progress toward more efficient operations. This translates into reduced operating costs, fewer units out of service, and improved asset management.

In this process, AI is positioned as a cross-cutting enabler that impacts various areas of the operation. From operators, with vehicle inspections, document interpretation, and in-cab monitoring, to maintenance and administrative teams, where this technology facilitates route management, report generation, invoicing, and order tracking.

The benefits are also reflected in financial and safety indicators. One example is PROAN , which achieved an 80% reduction in freight collection time and a 64% decrease in speeding violations , in an operation with more than 450 vehicles and over 70 years of experience .

Larrea emphasized that the combination of technology, data, and discipline in measuring indicators is emerging as the path to strengthening efficiency, reducing costs, and improving the competitiveness of the trucking industry in Mexico .

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El cargo Technology and data, key to improving fleet efficiency in Mexico: Samsara apareció primero en T21.

SAP Mexico concluded a year of solid results, marked by double-digit growth and the consolidation of technology projects in various industries , as stated by Paola Becerra, president of the company, highlighting that more organizations are taking decisive steps towards modernizing their processes and business models

Becerra emphasized that 2025 was driven by key implementations with clients such as San Pablo Farmacia , Bachoco , and companies in the automotive sector, among others. These organizations, he said, are pursuing three main objectives in their digital evolution: greater operational efficiency through process optimization and cost reduction ; a next-generation technology foundation , where modernization ceases to be a limitation and becomes an enabler of growth ; and comprehensive business transformation , guided by best practices from more than 25 industries that SAP serves globally.

He noted that technology is a key driver, but emphasized that the human component remains crucial.

“Transformation involves changing processes, culture, and the status quo, and that remains one of the country’s biggest challenges,” he commented.

Looking ahead to 2026, SAP Mexico will maintain a strong commitment to solidifying its position as the leading technology partner in enterprise applications, data, and artificial intelligence . The goal, the company stated, is for each client to be able to capture the true value of innovation by implementing it in concrete business processes.

“We want technology to stop being seen as a problem of obsolescence and become an engine for continued growth,” Becerra emphasized.

He concluded that SAP Mexico will continue to promote transformation stories that strengthen the competitiveness of companies and, with it, the development of the country.

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El cargo SAP Mexico closes the year with double-digit growth and continues to drive digital transformation apareció primero en T21.

Agricultural digitalization is progressing at different paces in Mexico, but the need is shared: to measure, anticipate failures, and optimize every hour of work in the field. In this context, TAFE , a manufacturer of agricultural tractors, presented TAFE Terra , a digital platform that integrates telematics, geofencing, tractor condition monitoring, and operational analytics , designed for producers seeking greater control over their equipment and processes without relying on expensive or complex systems

TAFE Terra functions as an ecosystem that captures real-time performance data , allowing users to visualize usage, critical engine parameters, locations, operating limits, and potential alerts. For a sector where every downtime is costly, the ability to anticipate failures or detect consumption patterns is a tool directly linked to profitability and production continuity.

One of the key features is the ability to create geofences : virtual areas that track tractor entry and exit, useful in zones where several properties, shared equipment, or dispersed areas overlap. For those managing small or medium-sized units with limited resources, this visibility allows for adjusting routes, work routines, and effective operating times.

The integration of analytics also points to a shift in farm management practices. Instead of relying solely on field experience, the platform offers indicators that facilitate data-driven decision-making , from identifying peak usage times to wear patterns associated with different types of work. The goal is not to overcomplicate processes, but rather to generate useful information for planning, reducing costs, and better allocating team effort.

TAFE’s commitment to a digital tool of this kind reflects a trend already sweeping the sector: the average producer is beginning to seek solutions that combine affordable machinery with smarter management , especially for tractors under 100 horsepower (hp), where much of the country’s agricultural activity is concentrated. The goal is simple: to achieve more with what they already have.

In addition to TAFE Terra, the company complemented its presentation with the new Magna 15 series , a modernized utility machine that integrates seamlessly into this digital ecosystem. However, the central message was that the future of Mexican agriculture lies not only in renewing machinery, but also in equipping it with tools that allow for more efficient, transparent, and measurable operation.

With this approach, TAFE joins the technological evolution that is beginning to permeate the country’s fields, where the ability to monitor, anticipate and optimize each day becomes a key component to sustain the competitiveness of producers.

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El cargo TAFE presents a digital platform that promotes precision agriculture in Mexico apareció primero en T21.