The importance of trucking in the Mexican economy is not only maintained, it is deepening. More than 80% of land freight and nearly 56.8% of total domestic freight are transported by road, while this mode accounts for more than 83% of the value of trade between Mexico and the United States, according to the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) .

In this context, where 64% of the country’s exports depend on road transport, the collaboration between Scania and Grupo Panamotors comes at a time marked by operational pressures and the need to renew the vehicle fleet, the companies reported through a press release.

In this alliance, Panamotors will act as a channel to market and bring brand-backed units, especially pre-owned ones , to the market, expanding their availability in different regions of the country.

With this, they seek to facilitate access for carriers to vehicles that allow them to maintain operations without waiting for the renewal of a new fleet, in a context where operational demand continues to grow, but modernization is progressing more slowly.

In Mexico, the average age of cargo vehicles exceeds 20 years, and around seven out of every 10 units have been in operation for more than a decade, according to figures reported by companies based on data from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , which translates into higher operating costs and pressures on efficiency.

In this sense, the participation of manufacturers and distributors aims to broaden alternatives for carriers, particularly in a market where fleet renewal is not progressing at the same pace as operational demand.

The incorporation of pre-owned units is emerging as an option to keep operations active, noted Alfredo Amador, CEO of Grupo Panamotors.

Similarly, Jorge Navarro, Scania’s commercial director, indicated that this type of solution allows operations to continue while expanding access to options for carriers.

“Today, pre-owned vehicles are a strategic tool for keeping operations running, and having Panamotors as a strategic partner allows us to bring this value proposition to more carriers with greater proximity, agility, and a commercial focus. Together, we put Scania-backed solutions in the hands of our customers, ready to generate profitability from day one,” Navarro emphasized.

The strategy considers strengthening the presence in key logistics corridors , where the greatest industrial and foreign trade activity is concentrated, in a sector that continues to be the axis of the mobility of goods in the country.

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El cargo Scania and Panmotors strengthen their offer of used vehicles for transport companies apareció primero en T21.

Fleet renewal remains one of the biggest challenges for the trucking industry in Mexico . For carriers, the decision to replace vehicles is not only driven by the operating cycle or contractual obligations, but also by an environment where price, mechanical reliability, and legal certainty don’t always go hand in hand.

For small and medium-sized business owners , the pressure to keep their units in operation often leads them to opt for immediate solutions that may compromise their future performance, according to Alfredo Amador, CEO of Panamotors .

One of the factors that continues to distort the market is the importation of used trucks from the United States. Although these units are highly competitive in price, their mechanical and legal history is not always clear.

Despite the fact that the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Producers (ANPACT) , together with the Ministries of  Economy (SE)  and  Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat),  promoted the Agreement on Environmental Conditions in the Importation of Used Vehicles , which seeks to prevent the entry into the country of units more than 10 years old, the market for imported used trucks continues to represent a challenge for the sector , particularly due to the persistence of units with high operational wear and tear and legal and mechanical risks for carriers.

According to Panamotors, many of these vehicles arrive with over a million miles on the odometer, significantly increasing maintenance requirements and post-purchase costs. Added to this is the risk of improper import procedures, which can restrict their use on certain routes or create documentation problems for the carrier.

In this context, the challenge for the sector is not only accessing more affordable units, but also evaluating the viability of the investment in the medium and long term. For large fleets, the challenge lies in maintaining previously budgeted operating costs , where fuel efficiency and maintenance frequency become critical variables. For growing carriers, price remains a determining factor, but it is increasingly important to have certainty about the actual condition of the purchased unit.

Given this scenario, Amador explained that companies in the used truck market have focused their strategy on meeting a wider range of operational needs, from light trucks to tractor-trailers and vocational equipment.

This approach responds to a reality in the sector: carriers do not face the same challenges at all stages of their growth , and the investment decision is often conditioned by the lack of clear information about the history and actual conditions of the available units, the executive explained.

One of the main challenges for the used car market remains raising the standard of an activity that has historically operated with high levels of informality, he added.

The professionalization of processes, the traceability of units, and the certainty regarding the return on invested capital appear as key elements in an environment where the tractor-trailer continues to be a productive asset , whose value depends, to a large extent, on its ability to remain in constant operation.

In a context marked by economic uncertainty and financial pressure on carriers, the discussion surrounding used vehicles is no longer focused solely on the purchase price and is shifting towards factors such as operational continuity, risk management and the economic sustainability of the investment over time.

According to ANPACT, for every 100 newly assembled trucks, 61 used ones enter Mexico, representing a significant safety hazard on the country’s highways, as many of these vehicles have already reached one million miles. The organization reports that between 2022 and 2024, imports of these types of vehicles increased from 8,071 to 29,790, a growth of approximately 269 percent.

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El cargo Structural challenges in fleet renewal put pressure on the trucking industry apareció primero en T21.

The used truck market in Mexico is moving quickly, but it operates with a level of informality that complicates any accurate measurement. There is no official reference for the size of the segment, although the most consistent estimates point to at least 100,000 units traded annually , driven by demand that far exceeds the supply of new vehicles. This volume—dispersed, uneven, and lacking transparency—maintains constant pressure on those seeking to professionalize the industry, as explained by Alfredo Amador, CEO of Panamotors .

Panamotors operates within this context; today, the company manages an inventory valued at approximately 200 million pesos (MXN) , plus another five million MXN allocated to workshop operations and human capital. Its presence in the State of Mexico and Querétaro allows it to concentrate activities where carriers, brokers, and fleets of varying sizes converge.

In an interview with T21, Amador explained that one of the central issues in the used car market is moving towards more uniform criteria for pricing and vehicle condition. He pointed out that the variety of configurations, makes, and usage histories means that each vehicle has very particular characteristics, so having clear and verifiable information becomes key to facilitating purchasing decisions.

From their perspective, the recent limitation on the import of used units of US origin will contribute to bringing more order to the market , by encouraging transactions to be carried out with more complete documentation and traceability.

The company’s growth has also been influenced by market trends. Since 2019, Panamotors has gone from 100 to 400 units sold annually , a trend that reflects the increased movement of assets between large fleets and small carriers. Although this represents less than 1% of the estimated used vehicle market, the company projects reaching 2% within three to five years , equivalent to more than two thousand units per year .

The goal is not limited to increasing placements, but to make it easier for large companies to rotate inventory and for small and medium-sized firms (including owner-operators) to access units with clear information about their origin and use.

Their model operates as a link between both profiles: on the one hand, they support carriers who need to move equipment to renew models or free up yards; on the other hand, they place those units among those looking for a used vehicle with documentary and mechanical traceability.

In addition, there’s Zyenova , an internal reconditioning process that standardizes the aesthetic and technical inspection of each truck before it’s sold. It doesn’t replace a new vehicle, but it addresses the growing demand for used units in verifiable condition and ready to operate.

The operation is concentrated in a strategic area. With over three hectares of yards and workshops in the State of Mexico and Querétaro, the company has immediate access to corridors such as Toluca, Puebla, Pachuca, Morelia, and the access routes to the Valley of Mexico. This positioning coincides with the natural movement of the market and facilitates serving carriers from different regions.

Amador, who took over as director more than four years ago after working in financial and strategic analysis, has promoted an operational understanding of the market: how inventories move, which profiles demand pre-owned equipment, and what factors (price, documentation, mechanical condition) currently determine purchasing decisions. For him, clear information will continue to be a key element for the segment to evolve under more consistent parameters.

Twenty years after its founding, Panamotors closes this chapter with experience that reflects the evolution of the market and the need for greater transparency in transactions. The company reaches this anniversary with more defined processes and a consolidated presence, focused on continuing to strengthen standards and supporting fleet renewal in a sector that continues to transform.

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El cargo Used tractor-trailers, a multi-million dollar market without a level playing field apareció primero en T21.