Security technology is gaining ground in the trucking industry, but simply having devices, cameras, and connectivity platforms doesn’t guarantee their full potential. Operator training and data utilization remain two of the main gaps in maximizing the benefits of these tools.

This was explained by Itzel Alpízar, Business Intelligence & Connectivity Strategy Manager at Daimler Truck Mexico , who pointed out that currently the carriers themselves are showing greater interest in incorporating security solutions into their units, a different scenario from previous years, when brands had to more strongly promote their adoption.

“Customers are usually the ones who seek out or want to ensure they have some of these devices or security features in their vehicles. However, I think the missing piece in the industry now is the full utilization of all the data and all the technology,” he commented.

In an interview with T21, Alpízar explained that the brand’s strategy is focused on strengthening its connectivity and security ecosystem, as well as using technology to contribute to the efficiency of its customers’ operations.

Among the available tools, he mentioned Detroit Assurance and Freightliner Link 3.0 , which work together to generate safety protocols with a preventative approach. Through artificial intelligence (AI), it is possible to process different stimuli from both the environment and the vehicle itself to detect alerts that require action.

The goal, he explained, is to act before an accident occurs or, when an incident has already happened, to activate protocols that help protect the vehicle, the cargo, and the driver. In terms of road safety, the tools also aim to anticipate risk factors such as fatigue.

Training, a gap to close

However, technology requires the participation of those behind the wheel. Alpízar identified the training and awareness of drivers as one of the main gaps in taking advantage of available solutions.

He explained that the company works with its clients on training to facilitate familiarization with these technologies, as there are still cases in which operators obstruct the cameras or show resistance to using them.

“When we show them these videos or best practices with other clients that have helped us prevent accidents or prevent theft, their thinking and adoption change quite a bit,” he said.

The second challenge lies in the data . The platforms generate large volumes of information that need to be translated into decisions and preventative actions.

As an example, he pointed out that if a road is identified where, on a certain incline, vehicles tend to exceed their speed excessively, parameters and other actions can be established to help prevent risks. Customizing platforms, devices, and alerts also allows solutions to be tailored to each client’s needs.

The relationship between carriers and these tools has also changed. According to Alpízar, initially it was the responsibility of the supplier companies to approach clients and demonstrate the need to incorporate technology; now, it is the carriers themselves who seek out security devices and solutions.

However, he considered that the next step for the industry will be to take full advantage of the information generated by these technologies , so that the data can be translated into specific measures for each operation.

More tracking capabilities

Looking ahead to the evolution of these solutions, the company is working on incorporating additional tracking sensors , with the intention of facilitating the monitoring of different components of the operation, even when there are changes in boxes or goods.

It also seeks to strengthen tools focused on operator performance. Alpízar explained that they already have Driver Coach , which provides operators with suggestions to improve their performance, while they work on strengthening a scoring system that allows clients to identify best practices and replicate them among their other operators.

Given what he described as a challenging macroeconomic environment, the strategy will be to stay close to customers and complement the units with solutions that allow them to make better use of their assets.

“What we are looking for is to be very close to our customers and be able to offer them these kinds of differentiators that help them to take full advantage not only of the unit, but also of the range of solutions we have to support them in this situation,” he pointed out.

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El cargo Freightliner focuses its strategy on data and training to strengthen safety apareció primero en T21.

SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, SLP. – Thirty-two years ago, San Luis Potosí was the starting point for Scania ‘s story in Mexico . Today, amidst an economic climate that has led companies to hold back or postpone investments, the automaker has returned to the same location to open a new door: its first Scania Used Vehicle Hub in the country.

With an investment of 4.5 million pesos , the new space adds 1,500 square meters and 10 service bays intended to inspect, intervene and fine-tune used vehicles before returning them to the market.

Aaron Sanchez, manager of the Altiplano and Western Region of Scania Mexico, explained that San Luis Potosi was chosen as the first point because of its location and connectivity, but the operational objective is what happens before delivering a vehicle again.

“What we are looking for is for this workshop to function in order to guarantee that the purchase of used vehicles […] results in a unit without faults, a unit that is ready for the road,” he said.

And to get back on the road, the units go through a checklist of up to 100 points , divided into five categories that cover safety and operational control, powertrain, diagnostics, chassis, suspension, structure and cab conditions.

The inspection can extend to the vehicle’s inner workings. If necessary, technicians can remove and repair an engine , as well as work on the transmission and differentials before the vehicle is put back on sale.

The return to San Luis Potosí also has a historical component for the company. Gisela Quintero, Director of Customer Experience and Services at Scania Mexico, recalled that it was precisely there where the company began its journey in the country.

But the opening also comes at a time when investment decisions face a less straightforward scenario.

Manuel Aranda, Retail Director of Scania Mexico, acknowledged that the country is experiencing a “quite uncertain” economic situation and that, in such scenarios, companies tend to slow down or postpone investments . In response, he maintained that the company’s strategy has been to maintain investments in infrastructure and customer service capacity.

“At Scania we have been doing the complete opposite; we have been opening new sites, expanding our capacity, hiring more staff, and investing in tooling,” said Aranda, who added that the expansion will continue to increase service capacity in the country.

In addition to infrastructure, another key element for the used car market is knowing the vehicle’s history . During the presentation, it was detailed that 98% of the vehicles considered were covered by a maintenance policy , allowing their service history to be traced through the brand’s workshops.

For his part, David Hernández, National Manager of Used Vehicles at Scania Mexico, explained that the strategy seeks precisely to extend the life cycle of vehicles and support fleet renewal beyond the sale of new units.

“Fleet renewal in the trucking industry doesn’t just depend on selling new units, but also on the ecosystem that surrounds them,” he noted.

The scheme also targets small and medium-sized transport companies looking to incorporate newer vehicles without necessarily acquiring a new unit, in a market where knowing the maintenance, mechanical conditions and costs that may come after the purchase can make the difference.

With San Luis Potosí as its starting point, Scania thus opens a new stage for its used and multi-brand business in Mexico, extending the support of the units beyond their first owner.

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El cargo Scania opens its first used car hub in San Luis Potosí apareció primero en T21.

It took Daniel, a truck driver, eight hours to leave the Bajío region of Mexico, between the time it took to dispatch the client and the road conditions  along his route. He finally headed towards the port of Manzanillo with a full load of containers. But another obstacle still lay in store for him.  

Daniel’s commute between the cities of Tecomán and Manzanillo, both in Colima and 58 kilometers apart, which normally took him about two hours, turned into an eight-hour ordeal due to the traffic congestion caused by the highway expansion work on the road to Colima. When he finally managed to move forward and reach the port, his fate was sealed:  his appointment to enter the terminal had been canceled , and he would have to wait in a nearby yard or at least somewhere safe on the street for a new assignment. 

This story—which began on November 25, 2025, during the expansion phase of the Armería-Manzanillo section and has been repeated for the past four years since the start of the entire project—may change its name, route, or merchandise, but behind it all remains the same reality: the customer’s clock keeps ticking even when the truck stops due to circumstances that the carrier can hardly control.  

This scenario is all too common in Mexico.  Roadworks , accidents , military or police checkpoints , traffic jams , customs failures, and congested port access points can turn a plan built over days into a matter of hours. And missing a date also means keeping equipment and the operator idle, incurring costs, and jeopardizing the next trip. 

Stories abound: a CM Logistics unit  spent nearly 12 hours trying to leave Manzanillo. By the time it reached the capital of Colima, 14 hours had passed and there was still a long way to go to reach the north of the country, Eduardo Mendoza, the company’s general manager, told T21. 

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El cargo Trucking industry, caught between customer pressure and infrastructure failures apareció primero en T21.

The integration of technology into heavy vehicles has opened new possibilities for preventing road accidents, but safety is no longer limited to the systems installed in the vehicles. Connectivity, operational monitoring, and operator training are also part of a strategy aimed at reducing risks.

For Gilberto Rodríguez, Sales Engineering and Electromobility Manager at Scania Mexico , the integration of these elements allows for better use of the tools available in the vehicles and their application to daily operations.

“The big differentiator is how everything works together: the truck, the monitoring systems, that is, fleet management systems, and the training and development aspect,” Rodríguez explained.

In an interview with T21, he pointed out that Scania ‘s strategy starts with the design of the vehicles and includes the incorporation of different driver assistance systems.

“At Scania, safety is a design feature, not an optional package,” he stated, explaining that these systems are integrated as standard in the units that the company sells in Mexico.

Among the available technologies are emergency braking assistance , blind spot detection , lane departure warning and correction , as well as sensors to detect objects , pedestrians and cyclists in the front, side and rear areas of the vehicle.

Adaptive cruise control is also included , allowing the driver to set a speed and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. According to Rodríguez, if that distance decreases, the system can intervene and even bring the vehicle to a complete stop without driver intervention.

However, the executive maintained that the vehicle’s equipment is only one component of the strategy, which also includes connectivity, monitoring systems, fleet management, and operator training.

Rodríguez explained that the information generated by the units allows observation of their behavior and, together with training, the use of technology as part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at increasing safety during operation.

Regarding the equipment, he also highlighted the use of a hydraulic retarder associated with the transmission, a component that contributes to the control of the unit and is part of the specifications of the brand’s vehicles.

Electromobility still faces challenges in Mexico

The technological evolution of heavy transport also opens another front for the industry: electromobility . The specialist considered that Mexico is in an initial stage and that its progress will depend mainly on three components: technology, charging infrastructure, and regulation.

Regarding the first point, he noted that the technology is already available among manufacturers participating in the Mexican market. The challenge, he said, lies primarily in creating the necessary conditions to broaden its adoption.

“The electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which in Mexico, to be completely honest, is not enough and there is much more to develop,” he said.

Added to this challenge is the need to advance laws and regulations that allow for the standardization of specifications for both the charging infrastructure and the electric vehicles themselves.

For Rodríguez, having the technology, expanding the charging network, and developing a regulatory framework will be the three fundamental elements for Mexico to gradually move towards electromobility in transportation.

Regarding its performance in the Mexican market, Scania accumulated 524 retail sales of cargo vehicles between January and March 2026 , of which 295 were tractor-trailers and 229 were other types of cargo vehicles, according to figures from the  National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (ANPACT) . Tractor-trailer sales represented a 21.1% decrease compared to the same period in 2025, while other types of cargo vehicles saw a 472.5% increase.

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El cargo Technology and fleet management broaden the path towards road safety: Scania apareció primero en T21.

The volatility that has characterized the commercial vehicle market throughout 2026 has not, so far, altered Isuzu Motors de México ‘s expectations for the end of the year. The automaker anticipates achieving its annual sales target, while noting increased customer interest in the models recently added to its lineup.

The company has also noticed the market’s erratic behavior; however, it noted that the outlook for the coming months remains favorable, commented José Manuel García Soria, Fleet Service Manager at Isuzu Motors de México.

“ The business outlook for the rest of the year looks promising . It seems that we will, if not exceed, at least reach our sales target for this year,” he explained to T21.

García placed the annual goal at around 6,500 units , although he specified that he was quoting the figure from memory.

The company’s expectations come after Isuzu accumulated 1,590 retail sales of cargo units between January and July 2026 , a 10.4% increase compared to the 1,440 registered in the same period last year, according to figures from the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (ANPACT) . In July, the brand sold 227 units, 22.3% fewer than the 292 sold in the same month of 2025.

Looking ahead to the final months of the year, Isuzu has also expanded its vehicle lineup. Among the new additions is the Forward 2000 , a 6×4 vehicle with a dual rear axle and all-wheel drive.

The Forward 1800 was also added , featuring a dual rear axle, although only one axle is driven. At the compact end of their lineup is the D-MAX , a pickup truck whose launch and sales recently began in Mexico.

According to García Soria, the response to these units has exceeded the company’s initial forecasts.

“We have observed a much greater interest from the market than we ourselves expected, so we are very optimistic about it,” he stressed.

Fleets focus on after-sales service

In addition to sales performance, Isuzu identifies a greater weight of after-sales service in fleet decisions , particularly in the support that companies receive once they incorporate the units into their operation.

García explained that the company has a team dedicated exclusively to maintaining contact with fleet customers, attending to their needs and acting as a liaison with the brand.

Part of this work includes training for operators and technical staff , as well as monitoring the needs that arise during vehicle operation.

“Many times, that after-sales support is what decides things, it’s the decision they make: ‘I’m staying with this brand because I don’t feel abandoned’,” he stated.

The evaluation of the units also takes into account aspects directly related to their operation. García Soria indicated that among the elements that customers have highlighted are the ergonomics of the cab and fuel efficiency .

Thus, towards the end of 2026, Isuzu will seek to sustain its annual target in a market that continues to show variations, while the response of fleets to the new units will be one of the elements that will mark the company’s performance during the coming months.

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El cargo Isuzu Motors de México expects to meet its sales target by the end of 2026 apareció primero en T21.

QUERÉTARO, QRO.- In a trucking operation , the cost of a vehicle goes beyond its purchase price. According to Rafael Gutiérrez, Commercial Development Manager for Scania Mexico , factors such as fuel efficiency , safety, and maintenance are also part of the evaluation that corporate fleets conduct when making decisions.

This view, he explained, is part of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, through which companies consider various elements associated with the operation of vehicles and not just the price of the asset.

It is precisely in this segment where Scania Mexico begins to see signs of recovery during the second half of 2026.

“As we approach the end of the year, we’ve been seeing a market recovery in this segment. Traditionally, it tends to be strongest in the second half of the year, due to budget cuts and other factors,” Gutiérrez noted.

He also explained that this type of fleet usually carries out a comprehensive evaluation before incorporating units, so aspects related to the operation become relevant in the decisions.

“We factor in fuel efficiency, safety, maintenance, and then we make an overall assessment of the product and make decisions based on that,” he explained.

Regarding fuel, the executive mentioned the performance of the Scania Super powertrain as one of the components that the company considers within its total cost of ownership proposal, due to its impact on the profitability of operations.

However, he maintained that the evaluation doesn’t end there. Safety also impacts company profitability and is one of the factors fleets consider when analyzing their vehicles.

Security, part of the operation

During the Tenth Road Safety Congress of the   National Association of Private Transport (ANTP) , Gutiérrez emphasized that safety encompasses both the equipment incorporated in the vehicles and the conditions for the operator and their training.

In that regard, he assured that 100% of Scania trucks have the safety systems that the company incorporates into its units, under the premise that this equipment is not considered optional.

“For us, safety is not optional, and 100% of our trucks come equipped with all the systems that will help the operator because we know that it is a fundamental part of the ecosystem and the business,” he stated.

In addition, there is the training of drivers and the maintenance of units through the company’s service network, elements that Gutiérrez linked to the need to keep vehicles available for operation.

“What we need is for the truck to be out on the road and not stuck in the workshops,” he said.

Telemetry is also part of this strategy. According to the executive, generating data allows them to obtain information about operations and leverage the capabilities of the units.

“A product that doesn’t generate data and doesn’t help us improve is difficult to get the most out of,” he said.

The challenge in a market of lower sales

While Scania is seeing a recovery in the corporate fleet segment during the second half of the year, Gutiérrez acknowledged that the industry faces a complex sales scenario.

Given this scenario, he pointed out that one of the challenges for the brand is to continue supporting its customers and strengthening its own service network.

“Today, precisely at a time when perhaps the business itself or the industry is not going through its best moment in terms of sales, we are strengthening ourselves,” he commented.

Gutiérrez indicated that during the last few months Scania has opened more service points as part of this strategy, although during the interview he did not specify the number of openings.

The goal, he explained, is to maintain focus on current operations and have the capacity to respond when new business arises.

“We are ready with a network that can maintain long-term relationships, but above all, when new business comes in, so that our clients can be well taken care of,” he pointed out.

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El cargo Scania expects increased corporate fleet activity by the end of 2026 apareció primero en T21.

QUERÉTARO, QRO.- Hours behind the wheel, days that can be extended, pressure to fulfill the operation and a rest that is not always sufficient are part of an activity in which the wear and tear does not necessarily end when the operator turns off the engine.

Cardiovascular diseases and fatigue are among the main threats to the lives of truck drivers , one from a health perspective and the other from an operational perspective, but with factors that can end up connecting behind the wheel.

Rodolfo Giacoman, a fatigue management specialist at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) , pointed out that cardiovascular diseases are the leading biological cause of death , while fatigue represents one of the main occupational risks for operators.

During the Tenth National Congress on Road Safety of the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) , the specialist detailed that cardiovascular diseases, which include heart attacks and strokes, represent around 224,000 deaths in Mexico, according to data from the 2024 Registered Death Statistics (EDR) of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , which was published at the end of 2025 by the organization.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the EDR explains that if cardiovascular diseases are grouped with related metabolic diseases, the figure reaches approximately 415,000 out of a total of 819,000 deaths .

The problem takes on a particular dimension for the trucking industry. Giacoman indicated that the life expectancy of North American truck drivers is around 61 years , while a significant proportion of this population is over 45 years old.

“If the average is 61, it means that many people are dying at 50 and others at over 61. That is a problem,” he warned.

On the other hand, there is fatigue, whose role in accidents can be difficult to identify because it does not necessarily leave evidence that allows one to immediately determine that an operator was tired.

Giacoman indicated that investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States place fatigue in between 30% and 40% of fatal crashes .

But he warned that its consequences can go beyond accident rates.

“It’s not just causing 30 to 40 percent of fatal crashes. It’s making drivers sick,” he said.

The specialist explained that keeping a person tired and working at maximum capacity can increase inflammatory processes and maintain high levels of cortisol and adrenaline, in addition to interacting with problems such as obesity, diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea.

Therefore, he called on companies to review operational decisions that may lead an operator to continue working despite fatigue.

“It could mean that one day, perhaps, they won’t give him the bonus because he won’t take that extra day off and he’s tired, he’s sick, he needs to rest. Change the priorities, change the way you operate,” he argued.

When the first warning may come too late

In cardiovascular matters, prevention also faces a challenge, and the problem can progress without obvious signs.

During his presentation, Giacoman noted that between 33% and 50% of cases may present with sudden death as the first symptom . “There are no symptoms,” he emphasized.

Among the factors he addressed to determine cardiovascular risk were blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, body mass index, kidney function, family history, and age.

According to Giacoman, addressing these conditions should be part of the safety culture of trucking companies, along with nutrition, exercise, mental health, personal relationships, and proper sleep hygiene.

The approach places two risks under the same discussion: the operator’s safety depends not only on avoiding a road crash, but also on preventing conditions that could deteriorate their health before getting into the vehicle.

In this scenario, the specialist called for the health of operators to no longer be viewed as a separate issue from the operation and to be incorporated into the safety culture of companies, particularly in the face of factors such as fatigue and conditions that increase cardiovascular risk.

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El cargo Cardiovascular diseases and fatigue are among the main risks for truck drivers. apareció primero en T21.

MAJALCA, CHIH.- A network of safe rest stops is not built overnight; between identifying the corridor, defining the point, developing the project, coordinating authorities and investors and finally putting it into operation, months, even years, can pass.

The first Safe Rest Stop with Integrated Services , inaugurated in this city in northern Mexico, allows us to understand part of that process. Carlos Aguirre Quiroga, B2B director of OXXO Gas , explained to T21 that there was prior work to analyze the highways and roads before determining where to develop the project and that, once the decision was made, it took about two years of work with the authorities until its realization.

The facility also did not begin operating with all its services simultaneously. Different commercial partners gradually joined the complex starting in January, a process that continued over the following months until its official opening in August.

The precedent gains relevance after the federal government announced 15 safe rest stops as part of the actions recently presented for road safety, including the C4 Highway.

A need that goes beyond the announced projects

The scale of the need had already been recognized by the sector itself. Last April, during a press conference attended by T21, the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) indicated that it had identified approximately 1,400 rest stops across the country , although there was no certainty as to how many of them actually met the conditions to be considered safe and comprehensive.

The organization also estimated a need for more than two thousand such spaces to serve the trucking industry in the country.

The problem isn’t limited to finding parking. According to information presented at the time by Canacar, 50% of cargo thefts occurred when drivers took breaks to attend to basic needs, such as eating or resting.

This data adds another dimension to the announced infrastructure: while the federal government is initially considering 15 new safe rest stops, the sector has raised a need that numbers in the thousands and, moreover, recognizes that not even all the spaces currently identified offer certainty about their safety conditions.

From the advertisement to the road

Tania Carro Toledo, Undersecretary of Communications and Transportation of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , reported that, through the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport , the agency has authorization to continue with the preparation of the executive project of nine other rest stops , while five additional ones remain under review .

This means that, in addition to the complex already operating in Chihuahua, the other 14 sites under consideration are still going through stages prior to their commissioning .

The expectation of dependency, however, does not end with those first 15.

“This is just the beginning for us. The reality is that we are already making commitments to all investors so that there will be many more,” Carro Toledo stated.

The official called on concession holders, investors, and decision-makers to participate in the development of this infrastructure. She also noted that a notice promoting investment in the construction and expansion of rest stops was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on July 18 .

Another 14 are still in process

While the first rest stop has already entered operation, the information provided by the SICT shows different levels of progress for the remaining ones: nine must continue with the preparation of their executive project and five are still under review.

For Alex Theissen, president of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Private Transport (ANTP) , the development of this infrastructure must reach the country’s strategic corridors, so he called for maintaining coordination between authorities and private initiative.

“Our expectation is that this rest stop will be a benchmark and that this effort will continue to spread to the other strategic corridors of the country,” he said.

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El cargo Safe rest stops: the challenge is not advertising them, but getting them to the road apareció primero en T21.

MAJALCA, CHIH.- Fatigue sets in during a night’s journey. After hours behind the wheel and with the cargo still far from its destination, stopping to rest would seem logical, but for truck drivers, finding a safe place to do so remains one of the challenges on the country’s highways.

The problem combines two risks that coexist during the journey : fatigue accumulated from long hours of operation and the insecurity that can arise when stopping. Finding a place to pause also involves considering the driver’s safety, the security of the truck and the cargo, making rest a necessity that is not always easy to fulfill.

This is the reality that drivers constantly express, hence the need to create safe spaces for them. The private sector achieved this; on this occasion, it was OXXO Gas , which, in coordination with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT),  inaugurated the first OXXO Gas Safe Stop, a Travel Center with Comprehensive Services, in Majalca, Chihuahua, which had been announced in recent days by the federal government.

The space aims to concentrate in one place conditions for the safekeeping of units and goods, as well as services that allow operators to stop and rest before continuing their journey .

The need is not lost on those behind the wheel. During the inauguration, one of the operators recounted that he cannot stop just anywhere on his routes for safety reasons and recalled that he has even been the victim of assault and the theft of a truck.

“This project was designed to benefit the carrier, understanding the needs and challenges they face on the road,” explained Carlos Aguirre Quiroga, B2B director of OXXO Gas, in an interview with T21.

The executive pointed out that the objective goes beyond fuel supply, aiming to provide operators with the necessary services to rest and continue their journey in one place.

The complex required an investment of over 100 million pesos (MXN) , occupies more than 35,000 square meters (m²) , and is expected to benefit around 480,000 users annually . Aguirre explained that approximately 13,000 vehicles , including heavy trucks and light vehicles, pass through this area daily.

The rest stop has capacity for 37 units, including full configurations , in addition to six or seven temporary spaces for stays of between 30 minutes and one hour, intended for those who only need to use some service before continuing their journey.

This site offers rest areas, restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, food options, fuel, and mechanical assistance. During the tour of the facilities, it was reported that there are 10 showers, eight for men and two for women .

Resting is also part of road safety

Beyond the protection of the units and goods, the opening of the complex brought to the table another component of road safety: the conditions available for operators to comply with their rest periods.

“Rest is also part of road safety,” said Alex Theissen, president of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) .

Theissen explained that a safe road depends not only on the conditions of the infrastructure, signage or vehicles, but also on having places that allow operators to stop, rest and then continue their journey in suitable conditions.

In that regard, Tania Carro Toledo, Undersecretary of Communications and Transportation of the SICT, recalled that NOM-087 establishes maximum driving times and mandatory rest periods for operators.

The official stated that compliance with these periods helps reduce the risk of accidents associated with fatigue and protects both operators and other road users.

But rest isn’t just about having a place to stop. The safety of the driver, the vehicle, and the cargo are the other components the rest stop aims to address.

In that regard, Carlos Aguirre also explained that the complex has access control, cameras, and private security. Furthermore, a barracks for the National Guard was built , with the intention of ensuring a permanent presence of its personnel on the premises.

These measures are complemented by private security patrols and video surveillance, while the parking facility allows cargo units to remain within the complex during rest periods.

The location also takes into account the area’s logistical flow . The project is situated near Federal Route 45, which connects Chihuahua with Ciudad Juárez, identified by the SICT as one of the main corridors for the movement of people and goods to the northern border, Aguirre explained.

More inns in the sights

The opening in Majalca is part of the actions announced days ago by the federal government to strengthen highway safety, including the implementation of the C4 Highway Command Center and the development of a network of 15 safe rest stops. The OXXO Gas complex is the first of these locations to become operational.

Carro Toledo explained that, after this first opening, the SICT has authorization to continue with the development of the executive project for nine other rest stops , while five additional ones are in the process of review, to complete the 15 contemplated.

OXXO Gas has not yet decided where its next project will be located. Aguirre explained that the company is analyzing its network of service stations and various highways to identify locations where the concept could be replicated.

“We are conducting analyses to understand what the next rest stops we could build might be,” he said.

For now, he added, the priority will be to ensure that the Majalca complex meets the needs of the transporters before moving on to other locations.

For Theissen, the need goes beyond a facility.

“Mexico needs a network of safe rest stops that supports the growth of its logistics activity and at the same time recognizes the fundamental role of those who travel our roads every day,” he said.

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El cargo OXXO Gas inaugurates first comprehensive safe rest stop for truck drivers in Chihuahua apareció primero en T21.

The need to train and professionalize more heavy vehicle operators keeps training as one of the main challenges for the federal trucking industry . Faced with this situation, industry organizations have added a new alternative to expand the tools available for driver preparation.

Airports and Auxiliary Services (ASA) and the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) signed collaboration agreements that will allow them to take advantage of the infrastructure and specialized programs of the International Center for Instruction of Airports and Auxiliary Services (CIIASA) for the training and updating of federal motor transport operators.

Representatives from the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , the National Chamber of Passenger and Tourism Transportation (Canapat), and the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) participated in the signing . These organizations announced the agreement through their social media networks and highlighted the importance of strengthening the training of human capital to advance the safety and professionalization of the sector.

For the freight trucking industry, the agreement comes as the availability of drivers continues to strain operations. Canacar has estimated the national shortage at around 96,000 drivers , a situation that has led the sector to promote schools, specialized centers, and partnerships with educational institutions to expand the training of new drivers.

Infrastructure for freight and passenger transport

With the new scheme, companies affiliated with Canapat will be able to access CIIASA’s infrastructure and specialized programs to strengthen the continuous training of passenger transport drivers.

“Strengthening the training of our drivers is strengthening passenger transport,” Canapat stated on its social media.

For its part, Canacar highlighted that ASA’s experience and CIIASA’s infrastructure will strengthen the training of operators and raise the level of talent required by the freight transport industry.

The ANTP stated that the agreement represents an opportunity to promote training and professionalization, placing human capital as one of the components to maintain safer and more efficient logistics and transportation operations.

The CIIASA, named “Engineer Roberto Kobeh González”, has infrastructure intended for specialized technical training and during 2026 includes in its offer activities related to certification in road transport and freight service.

The signing was attended by Tania Carro Toledo, Undersecretary of Communications and Transportation of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) ; Luis Ruiz Hernández, Director General of Federal Motor Transport; and Carlos Manuel Merino Campos, Director General of ASA, as well as representatives of business organizations in the sector.

The agreement thus expands the training options available for the road transport sector , at a time when attracting new operators is not the only challenge: so is ensuring that those who join and those already behind the wheel have continuous training to meet the operational and safety demands of the sector.

(Main image source ANTP)

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