Freight trucking is a fundamental activity in the Mexican economy and also contributes to society. More than 80% of national merchandise is transported by this mode of transport, while it accounts for more than 57% of total trade, in addition to contributing 3.7% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) .

Freight trucking companies and participants recognize that one of the main challenges is recruiting new trucking operators or retaining this workforce. In fact, the International Road Transport Union (IRU)  estimated that there will be a shortage of 99,000 trucking operators in these jobs by 2025.

Based on this reality, the Drive is Great certification , an initiative jointly launched in 2023 by VI-Human and Grupo T21 , aims to recognize organizations that have managed to develop a successful culture and good institutional practices, centered on the comprehensive development of its operators as a strategic basis for its operations, based on building trust among all collaborators, who enjoy winning through their roles.

Since this certification was launched in 2023 , a growing community has emerged, including the following companies:

• Pilot Auto Transport .
• García´s Trucking .
• Direct Express Group .
• STI Group .
• FEMA Transports .
• Trareysa .
• Route .
• Zinergia .

These companies are part of a group of organizations that maintain a commitment to their employees and their customers, which is why they have strengthened and sustained the constant development of their quality and service policies, and in particular, those focused on their human capital .

“Drive is Great honors organizations that have achieved organizational capabilities and competencies that lead to models for developing new talent, strengthening their employer brand, and retaining their operators, as well as their focus on establishing alternatives for operator development through ongoing training and awareness-raising to prioritize safety and well-being,” highlighted Einar Palomino, president of Drive is Great.

Drive is Great certification evaluates four major areas: new workforce development, operator retention strategies, employer branding, and training, education, and safety plans .

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El cargo Who do you trust with your cargo? apareció primero en T21.

The silence still hangs heavy in the early morning when María Elena Parada Garnica begins her routine. There is no applause, no spotlight, just the rustle of her uniform, freshly brewed coffee, and the certainty that today, like yesterday, like tomorrow, she has a path awaiting her.

While the world is just waking up, she’s already one step ahead, fine-tuning the mirror, checking the tires, and adjusting her dreams.

She’s an operator for Autotransportes Pilot , and although many are still surprised to see a woman driving a tractor-trailer, she has no doubt that’s her place.

He didn’t end up here by chance. He liked heavy work; it was in his blood. His brother is also a construction worker. But when he couldn’t teach him anything, he decided to find his own way.

That’s how she found Scania ‘s call to train female operators. “Here I am,” she said, thinking when she arrived at the training. Of 250 applicants , only 11 graduated, including her.

Since then, he hasn’t let go of the wheel. His base is in Guadalajara, Jalisco, but he loads up in Guanajuato and travels the roads with the experience of someone who transports not only goods, but also history.

Hers is made of effort, of nights away from home, of four children who wait for her and admire her, although they also worry.

María Elena isn’t alone. Step by step, more women are beginning to take the wheel in a sector historically dominated by men. From November 2023 to May 2025, the number of federally licensed women reached 7,126  , according to data from the National Association of Bus, Truck, and Tractor-Trailer Producers (ANPACT) .

Of these, 31% joined the cargo segment and 38% joined the passenger segment , reflecting a slow but sustained transformation in Mexican transportation routes. Every story like María Elena’s adds strength to this movement.

She knows it, and so does her family. Her children are proud, but they still worry. “They want me to take care of myself,” she told T21, with a smile that reveals what she doesn’t say: that fear often travels with her, due to the insecurity that plagues the sector every day.

But he doesn’t stop. He knows the road can be hostile , so he tries not to stay in just any place. He prefers safe pensions, spaces authorized by the company. He respects the road, not fears it. And although he recognizes that this is a risky profession, he also knows that it has given him something he didn’t have before: stability.

“I used to work in a factory and couldn’t make ends meet. Today I can give my children what they need,” she said firmly.

She doesn’t feel like a hero, but she is. She is every time she enters a bus stop and someone stares at her. She is when she explains that yes, women can do it too.

“Anything is possible with courage,” she asserted, also acknowledging that her husband’s support is key.

She doesn’t romanticize her job. She says with complete honesty that the salary was also part of her motivation . “You earn well,” she repeated without guilt, and she said it with the same pride with which she speaks of being able to support her household with her own efforts, because for her, being an operator isn’t just about operating a truck; it goes far beyond that; it’s a profession of heroic complexity.

It’s knowing how to read the road as if it were a living map, calculating weights, controlling inertia, anticipating maneuvers, and reacting precisely to the unexpected. It requires concentration, skill, and a composure that isn’t taught in manuals.

It involves knowing the mechanics, respecting rest periods , understanding the logistics, and even then, dealing with extreme climates, lonely roads, and, often, doubtful looks. Not everyone can do it, and yet, she can.

When asked if she sees herself in another job, her answer is immediate: “No.” She wouldn’t change this for anything. Because in this booth, she explained, she found independence , because every kilometer traveled is a test passed, and because, although there are still a lack of decent restrooms, safe bus stops, and more respect, as she described, nothing stops her, and she’s paving the way for those who come after her.

And he will continue to do so. With firm hands on the wheel, his eyes straight ahead, and with that courage that can’t be learned, he makes decisions.

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El cargo Kilometers of courage: María Elena’s story as a Pilot Transport operator apareció primero en T21.

For the fourth consecutive year, at the Jugos del Valle – Santa Clara (JDV-SC)Transportation Safety Summit, the focus with its suppliers of finished product transportation and production inputs  was on making road safety a non-negotiable priority and aligning all efforts to reduce all aspects of operational risk.

The JDV-SC leadership is clear that while transportation is outsourced, the implemented processes and elements such as training must be shared and, therefore, must be aligned in their objectives .

This effort is part of JDV-SC’s commitment to achieving the highest safety standards in alignment with its carrier partners and for the benefit of all the ecosystems where they converge.

“We cannot tolerate a lack of maintenance, processes, or training for operators. We must be strict and not compromise,” said Juan Carlos Jaramillo, general director of JDV-SC, at the start of the Transportation Summit.

The focus is on comprehensive safety, said Eugenio Domínguez, Supply Chain Director at JDV-SC, “We care about the physical and emotional health, not only of those who work for the company, but also of the community. That’s why the first element is ensuring that operators are safe .”

In this scenario, JDV-SC is focused on training operators and ensuring they assume technical skills , as well as identifying how to improve training processes.

Vicente Zenit, Director of Safety at The Coca-Cola Company , described that they must accelerate preventive practices so that they become a culture, and where efficient execution in operations stands out, a change in cultural mentality, “the safety culture must be focused on people ,” he considered.

An additional point raised by Zenit was that of recognition and accountability, in order to establish a clear responsibility matrix.

As part of the program, one of its transportation providers, Autotransportes Pilot , also participated. Gerardo Jiménez, the carrier’s general manager, presented the company’s ongoing safety models.

“Today we already have specialized road safety departments, because companies are focused on assuming greater responsibility in this area. Those of us who manage transportation fleets are jointly responsible for what happens inside and outside the vehicles,” Jiménez emphasized.

For this reason, various strategies are being implemented to address the health of operators, resulting in greater road safety. These strategies include involving families and maintaining close ties to promote better conditions.

Leonardo Gómez, executive president of the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) , highlighted that Mexico is above the average in Latin America in terms of the Accident Rate per million kilometers, above six per million kilometers, while the average is four .

“However, the accident rate for companies participating in the National Road Safety Award is just 0.59, which makes it clear that these types of initiatives are relevant,” said Gómez Vargas.

Another factor highlighted by the ANTP’s executive president is that while there is a severe shortage of operators, there is also a shortage of instructors, as a way to generate more professionally trained personnel to operate these types of units.

These are the elements that the 4th JDV-SC Transportation Safety Summit seeks to address in order to confront the issue of road safety, which the various participants agree is multifactorial and must be addressed with diverse strategies.

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El cargo Jugos del Valle – Santa Clara “revolutionizes” its approach to road safety apareció primero en T21.

GUADALAJARA, JAL. – The roots of the founders of Autotransportes Pilot are cemented in passenger transportation and infrastructure construction. Although cargo transportation was not entirely unknown, for these two entrepreneurs who began operations in 2009, it was undoubtedly charting a new course.

Five years ago, Arturo Sánchez Carcoba, partner and founder of Autotransportes Pilot, recalled: “Our family comes from the passenger transport business, but in 2006, Roberto, my partner, my mother and I decided to change our activities to freight transport.”

On this journey, they ventured into the transportation services of Grupo Modelo , where they entered with a rented vehicle, and then began to explore areas of growth, moving towards a portfolio of dedicated, local and border crossing services.

In its first decade, Pilot managed to consolidate a fleet of 130 units, both tractor-trailer and trailer. Over the last five years, the acceleration has been constant. According to the Top 100 of Autotransporte® , Pilot Autotransportes is now ranked 36th with a fleet of 500 tractor-trailers and 920 semi-trailers.

1. “Today we are among the 100 largest companies in Mexico and we are not going to stop here, we are going for more,” said Gerardo Jiménez, general director of Autotransportes Pilot, during the anniversary celebration.

Meanwhile, Arturo Sánchez and Roberto García, founders of the company, recalled the challenge of starting and staying on the path, but also the recognition of the collaborators who have been key in this journey and, of course, their clients and suppliers.

“Thanks to our business partners, who believed in us and supported us in disruptive projects. At Pilot we are not a truck company but a people company,” said Arturo Sánchez.

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El cargo Three Decades of Seeking Alternate Routes, Autotransporte Pilot 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.

Scania Mexico announced on Monday that it has begun training the fifth generation of the Scania Drivers program in Toluca, State of Mexico , a new generation of professional women in the operation of cargo transport vehicles, which is made up of 10 students.

The training course is taught by the National School of Professional Training in Transport (Encapt) and will last 180 hours, during which theoretical knowledge about the operation of the units and regulations will be imparted, while practical work will be carried out in a maneuvering yard.

Upon completion of their professional training, students will obtain a federal license issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , which will also provide them with the necessary skills to face the labor market.

The new generation of Scania drivers is supported by the National Chamber of Cargo Transport (Canacar) , the Association of Women Operators (AMO) , Barcel , Autotransportes Pilot , Transcooler Logistics and Digital FEMSA .

The training course will be active from October 14 and will end on November 23 in Toluca, State of Mexico. It is in addition to previous programs that have specifically trained women in Tijuana, La Comarca Lagunera, Manzanillo and Tula.

With this new generation, it is hoped to impact fifty women who will join the ranks of national freight transport.

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El cargo Scania welcomes its fifth generation of female drivers apareció primero en T21.