The shortage and retention of drivers continues to be one of the main challenges for freight transport, a problem that not only affects Mexico, but is repeated in different markets, said Luis Legorreta, partner and general director of Transportes VIM , a company that recently joined Grupo MexAmerik (number 32 of the  Top 100 of Autotransport® ).

The challenge could intensify in the coming years. According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , Mexico faces a shortage of approximately 99,000 freight operators and anticipates that the shortage will continue to worsen due to the aging workforce and the difficulty in attracting new operators to the sector.

In that context, Legorreta pointed out that, in addition to the availability of personnel, companies face the challenge of remaining competitive by incorporating new technologies and renewing their fleets, since those that delay these investments run the risk of falling behind the rest of the industry.

The executive considered that having units equipped with the latest technology represents an advantage for companies , both for their operational efficiency and for the attractiveness they can generate among operators.

“Having these trucks with this type of new technology is a competitive advantage against many other companies that don’t have a fleet renewal plan, aren’t looking to innovate in technology, or are starting to fall behind,” he said.

In the case of VIM, he explained that the strategy to face this scenario is based on strengthening training and consolidating an organizational culture that promotes a sense of belonging among employees.

He added that this effort starts from the company’s management and seeks to involve the entire team as part of the same project.

It is worth remembering that with the integration of VIM, Grupo MexAmerik incorporated four divisions  focused on specialized cargo, refrigerated transport, containers and construction, expanding its service offering and the industries it can serve.

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El cargo Driver retention, one of the main challenges for trucking companies: VIM apareció primero en T21.

The search for new operators also involves increasing female participation in the trucking industry. However, despite the efforts made in recent years by companies, organizations, and institutions to incorporate more women into the profession, their presence within the sector remains limited, reflecting that the challenge goes beyond recruitment and is linked to the conditions for attracting and retaining talent.

As of the end of April 2026, Mexico registered 706,936 valid federal licenses , of which 6,857 corresponded to women, equivalent to 1% of the total, according to statistics from the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) .

Of the total number of federal licenses held by women, 5,471 corresponded to the cargo service, equivalent to 79.8% , while 1,386 belonged to the passenger and tourism segment, with a participation of 20.2 percent .

Low female participation is not unique to Mexico. The most recent report from the International Road Transport Union (IRU) indicates that women continue to be underrepresented in the trucking industry worldwide. In Europe, they represent just 4% of truck drivers, while Australia registers 9% , the highest participation among the markets analyzed by the organization.

For the IRU, increasing the presence of women represents one of the main opportunities to broaden the sector’s workforce. However, it warns that the challenge will not be solved solely through recruitment campaigns, but also through improved working conditions, including greater safety , adequate infrastructure at bus stops and rest areas, sanitary facilities, and work arrangements that promote a healthy work-life balance.

The organization also highlighted that women tend to enter the profession at a younger age than men, so removing barriers to access to training, modernizing the image of the profession, and improving working conditions would open the door to a talent pool that remains underrepresented.

In a context where Mexico has one of the highest rates of operator shortages among the markets analyzed by the IRU, expanding female participation appears not only as an inclusion strategy, but also as an alternative to strengthen the availability of talent in an industry that faces increasing difficulties in meeting the demand for professional drivers.

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El cargo Female participation continues to lag in Mexican trucking apareció primero en T21.

The combination of increased accidents, cargo theft, and a shortage of drivers is creating a near-crisis scenario for Mexican trucking, where technology is becoming an indispensable tool to ensure the continuity of operations.

During its annual event, Motive unveiled new solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI) and on-device processing capabilities (Edge AI), designed to respond in real time to the challenges facing the industry.

“We are seeing a very complex, almost crisis-like scenario. It is a very resilient industry, but there is a significant increase in accidents, thefts and costs, in addition to a shortage of operators that is approaching 100,000,” said Omar Camacho, CEO of Motive, in an interview with T21.

The company presented solutions, including AI Dashcam Plus and AI Omnicam Plus , devices equipped with Edge AI, which allows for the interpretation of events and the generation of responses without the need to send information to the cloud.

It also announced Atlas , a conversational AI interface through which operators can interact with the system and receive real-time recommendations regarding traffic jams, risk zones, or emergency situations.

“We are seeing an increase of nearly 20% in accidents compared to last year, and we estimate a similar increase for next year. Today we have almost 16,000 registered robberies, and all of this creates a vicious cycle that could force many companies out of the market,” he warned.

Camacho explained that, given this scenario, fleets require integrated solutions capable of reacting in real time.

“Organized crime uses cutting-edge technology, and many carriers continue to operate with isolated systems. What we are proposing is a comprehensive platform that responds to these challenges,” he said.

According to the executive, some implementations have managed to reduce accidents by up to 80% in the first six months , as well as decrease fuel consumption by up to 30% and reduce insurance costs.

From a raid to an expansion

One of Motive’s success stories is Grupo ADET , a company specializing in last mile delivery for e-commerce clients such as Mercado Libre and Amazon.

Its CEO, Donaji Alvarado, explained that the company was founded almost four years ago with the conviction that technology should be a central part of the business.

“We worked at a company where tractor-trailers would disappear and we’d find out three days later. We’d say, ‘How is it possible that this is still happening?’ From the beginning, we knew we needed GPS, cameras, and monitoring tools,” he recalled.

After operating with another provider, Grupo ADET adopted Motive’s solutions and currently none of its units go on the road without monitoring and telemetry devices.

The executive recounted that, during the first operations with Mercado Libre in Naucalpan, one of their vehicles was robbed. However, the panic button and real-time monitoring allowed them to alert the control center and coordinate a response with the authorities.

“The monitoring team found out immediately, called the police, and they arrived at the house where the merchandise was located. They uncovered a major network involving stolen vehicles and arrested the group. Since then, we haven’t had any more robberies in that area, whereas before there was one per month,” he explained.

The incident ended up becoming a growth opportunity .

“We took all the evidence to the client, and from there we experienced enormous growth. We went from operating about 10 units to nearly 160 with that client. If that hadn’t happened, we probably wouldn’t be where we are today,” he said.

The last mile remains under pressure

Alvarado noted that the recent Hot Sale left a sustained demand for deliveries during June, forcing companies to increase their capacity by up to 50% , in an environment where hiring staff has become increasingly competitive.

“Such rapid growth is a financial challenge and also a human capital challenge, because all last-mile companies are looking for operators and staff at the same time,” he commented.

In the last two months, Grupo ADET increased its fleet by between 30% and 40% and is currently in a consolidation phase to take full advantage of the technological tools already available, including operator training solutions.

“Visibility is everything. It helps us in human resources, finance, and operations. There comes a point where it’s essential to have a system that allows you to know where all the units are and what’s happening with them,” he stated.

For Motive, artificial intelligence and real-time reaction capabilities will be key to facing the challenges that threaten road transport today.

“We want to have a greater impact on what really matters to our customers: reducing accidents, decreasing theft, improving productivity, and helping to address the operator shortage,” Camacho concluded.

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El cargo Artificial intelligence, key to combating theft and accidents in road transport: Motive apareció primero en T21.

Highway insecurity has once again become the central issue. Not just as a topic of discussion, but as an operational reality. Blockades on various stretches of road across the country, exposed drivers, and stranded goods have demonstrated that the problem is not merely a matter of perception. It is structural. And in this context, the president of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , Augusto Ramos, outlined a position that attempts to navigate between two lines: acknowledging the official figures while simultaneously admitting that the reality on the roads does not yet align with them.

During the presentation of the results of his first month in office, Ramos outlined the progress made in dialogue sessions, institutional coordination, and actions to address the main challenges of the sector, in an environment marked by road insecurity.

Official data points to a decrease in cargo theft of around 21% by 2025. However, the violence with which these crimes are committed and the vulnerability of drivers continue to put pressure on the sector. “The theft is very aggressive,” Ramos warned, and insisted that the challenge is not only to reduce the number of crimes, but also to better understand what is really happening on the road.

That’s where the contrast emerges. While official figures show a downward trend, reports of extortion, kidnappings, and assaults persist in daily operations . Far from dismissing either perspective, Canacar chose to develop its own.

Since March, the Chamber has begun collecting direct information from companies, operators, insurers and tracking systems, with the intention of cross-referencing it with the authority and, if necessary, confronting it.

The next step will be to institutionalize this process. In its first 100 days in office, the Chamber plans to establish a system for reporting cases of extortion and corruption. The stakes are high: if the reports consistently point to irregularities, they could even lead to the dismissal of public officials .

Meanwhile, the operation continues to set the pace. In March alone, four armed attacks against operators were recorded, one of them fatal. And while direct crime is the focus, road blockades amplify the problem: they stop goods, raise costs, and increase the risk of theft in a country where more than 80% of cargo is moved by road.

This interpretation is complemented by another perspective within the sector. Some companies have reported a decrease in thefts , but this is not necessarily attributable to improved public safety; rather, it stems from increased investment in technology, monitoring, and prevention. This opens a second line of analysis: if the reduction is due more to private strategies than to structural conditions, the underlying problem may persist.

Diesel and structure: the pressure that doesn’t let up

Adding to this pressure is diesel , the other major challenge for the trucking industry . Fuel represents about 30% of operating costs, and any price fluctuation immediately impacts rates. Ramos explained the equation: “For every peso the price of diesel increases, freight costs can rise by around four percent.”

The problem, however, is not within the sector’s control. Ramos acknowledged that fuel prices are driven by global factors , so companies have had to rely on both government incentives and their own operational efficiencies. Even so, the margin is getting narrower.

In this context, the sector’s very structure explains some of its limitations. He stated that more than 215,000 companies hold concessions, according to data from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , but only about 15,000 are formally registered with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) . Furthermore, 97% are micro and small businesses, and more than 80% operate with fewer than five vehicles, Ramos explained.

With that profile, the room for maneuver is limited. Therefore, according to Ramos, Canacar has begun to strengthen its internal operations with 25 committees and 23 commissions, in addition to permanent working groups that seek to address issues such as safety, training, and operational efficiency simultaneously.

At the same time, the Chamber has chosen to strengthen its ties with the industry. Through alliances with manufacturers and suppliers such as Daimler , International , and Cummins , it seeks to provide carriers with training programs, financing, and preferential terms that facilitate fleet renewal, especially in the segment that accounts for more than half of the country’s trucks.

Meanwhile, the sector is also observing the first steps in the fleet renewal program promoted by the federal government. Canacar indicated that it already has the guidelines that will define access to these incentives, focused primarily on micro and small carriers, although it acknowledged that this is only a first step in addressing the structural shortcomings facing the fleet.

Operators: the challenge that keeps growing

But even with these efforts, the sector faces a challenge that cannot be solved solely through financing or regulation: a shortage of drivers . Currently, the deficit exceeds 90,000 drivers, a trend that is not unique to Mexico.

Added to this is the generational shift that is beginning to put pressure on the sector, with almost 15,000 operators retiring , widening the gap between supply and demand. Faced with this scenario, Canacar proposes improving training, increasing the number of new operators trained—currently around 4,000 per year—and incorporating new sources of talent, including migrants.

Faced with this situation, the Chamber’s strategy has focused on three key areas: building its own data, maintaining ongoing dialogue with the authorities, and exerting institutional pressure based on evidence. The intention is clear: to move beyond reaction and toward prevention.

The challenge, however, remains balancing two realities. On the one hand, figures that point to improvements. On the other, an operation that is still perceived as vulnerable. Amid this tension, the trucking industry continues to keep the country moving, while attempting to bring order to a sector facing pressure from all sides.

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El cargo Insecurity, diesel, and data under pressure: Canacar seeks to regulate the sector apareció primero en T21.

The shortage of truck drivers is one of the main structural challenges facing the trucking industry  , and the trend continues to worsen. Figures from the International Road Transport Union (IRU) warn that the sector remains stagnant in talent development and that, by 2028, the shortage of drivers could reach unprecedented levels globally, with more than 106,000 vacancies projected in Mexico alone.

Faced with this scenario, Daimler Truck Mexico and its dealer network are betting on a training model that seeks to give greater structure to the development of operators , with programs ranging from basic training to officially backed certifications.

The effort is neither recent nor improvised. The project, explained Fernando Lascurain, general director of the Daimler Commercial Vehicles Distributors Association (ADAVEC) , took about four years to consolidate. Today, through the Comprehensive Management Center (Cedemi), a 180-hour course is offered to people with no experience operating tractor-trailer trucks , as well as training programs for instructors and online training through the company’s platform.

Erika Paz, Senior Marketing Manager for Daimler Truck Mexico, explained that part of the strategy is being developed in conjunction with organizations such as the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) and the Industrial Job Training Centers (Cecati) , through the loan of trucks for operator training. Under this program, nearly 800 operators were trained last year .

One of the differentiating factors, they agreed, is the institutional support . The courses are recognized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , and are also integrated under quality standards such as ISO 9001, which gives them curricular value.

The strategy also extends to operations. The model aims to connect the manufacturer with its distributor network to offer comprehensive solutions to customers, in an environment where the availability of operators directly impacts business continuity.

In this context, training ceases to be a complement and becomes one of the main drivers for sustaining the operation of the trucking industry . Because the problem is no longer just attracting talent, but training it and doing so on time.

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El cargo Daimler Truck Mexico promotes talent development in response to a shortage of truck drivers apareció primero en T21.

SALINAS VICTORIA, NL – Aware of the shortage of qualified operators in the Mexican trucking industry and the need to generate added value for society, Grupo Directo Express (number 11 in the  Top 100 Trucking Industry ) launched the DX Institute, an entity that will enable the training of new talent aligned with the corporation’s objectives and, above all, committed to its environment and society.

While the reality is that there are more than 90,000 unfilled freight transport operator positions in the country, it is also evident that there is a lack of human capital that can be in line with the values of companies, a situation that Directo Express seeks to reverse by generating not only operators, but also people with ethics and responsibility who can face the daily challenges in their environment .

The objective of the DX Institute is to promote a new generation of highly qualified operators with an operational culture and social commitment from their training, based on the regulations established by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , guaranteeing their competence and professionalism.

The training includes both theoretical classes and field practice, ensuring comprehensive and useful preparation to face the challenges of today’s transportation. Additionally, thanks to strategic alliances such as Voluntarios México , community activities are carried out that strengthen the operator’s sense of social responsibility.

The DX Institute will have the capacity to train between 30 and 35 operators simultaneously , who can develop over 10 weeks even if they have no experience in the activity, thereby seeking to generate a pool of talent, and transform a vocation into a solid career.

“The DX Institute was born from our commitment to safety, operational excellence, and, above all, the professional development of those who are the backbone of our company: our operators. The program is designed to provide the tools, knowledge, and skills necessary to address any challenge they face on the road,” said Claudia Ramos, Commercial & OPEX Manager at Grupo Directo Express.

Among the values pursued by the DX Institute are responsibility, integrity, security, respect, discipline, professionalism, empathy and improvement .

“The DX Institute is a space for developing responsible, highly trained men and women who operate transport vehicles, aware of the way these vehicles interact with their environment,” said Sandra Montelongo, professional leader of Operator Development.

The DX Institute consists of four training classrooms, a medical office, which permanently provides training to operators, and a psychology area. In addition, there are sleeping areas for both men and women, as well as bathrooms, showers, and changing rooms for both genders. The goal is to provide students with an environment that fosters better results .

The training consists of 70% practical activities , which take place in a maneuvering yard in the municipality of Salinas Victoria, while 30% of theoretical instruction takes place within the facilities of the DX Institute.

With 15 years of experience in the market, Grupo Directo Express has a fleet of more than 1,300 tractor-trailers and 1,500 towing vehicles , providing dry van services for trade between Mexico and the United States, with door-to-door and international crossings, as well as a flatbed and finished vehicle division.

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El cargo DX Institute, training people with high values and ethics apareció primero en T21.

AGUASCALIENTES, AGS. – In response to the growing shortage of operators in Mexico and with the goal of offering better service to its customers, Translíquidos Refrigerados López (TRL) acquired a driving simulator developed by APEX Simulation and Technology .  

This equipment will not only train new talent , but will also provide ongoing training to current operators, improving their driving habits and reducing road risks , which will strengthen retention efforts. 

“We are implementing this project to attract new operators and be able to offer more and better services to our customers. We want our drivers to have more training, more rest, and more time with their families. I am confident that, in the short term, we will see the fruits of this investment,” shared Agustín López, director of TRL. 

The initiative also seeks to address the small human errors that can lead to serious accidents.  

For Agustín López, it’s essential to develop good habits from the most basic point of view, such as fastening your seatbelt when entering the simulator.  

“These are small details that, when neglected, can turn into big problems,” he added. 

For his part, José Miguel Montoya , commercial director of APEX Simulation and Technology, explained that the simulator allows operators to face real-life road accident scenarios, recreating situations that have occurred in daily operations.  

This not only contributes to accident prevention, but also helps develop a pool of new drivers from scratch, addressing the country’s shortage of more than 99,000 drivers . 

“The simulator allows for training operators from entry-level, such as warehouse workers or forklift drivers, to fifth-wheel operators. It also helps companies reduce operating costs and prepare their drivers to operate units with the latest technologies, including electric models and specific configurations that our customers are acquiring,” Montoya emphasized. 

Meanwhile, Roberto Carrera, training and after-sales manager at APEX, explained that the simulator adapts to the needs of each company, recreating real accidents and complex routes with specific conditions.  

“We base our practice on two pillars: free practice and a structured training plan with 12 exercises designed to address common problems in Mexican driving, such as excessive clutch use or aggressive driving,” he explained. 

The APEX simulator also measures training effectiveness through efficiency and safety indicators , which rate operators using a traffic-light-type system and a letter scale, providing immediate feedback on their performance. 

In addition, the simulator allows for flexibility in training: some operators may dedicate nine to 12 hours per week , while others adjust their time based on daily operations. 

For TRL, this investment represents not only a solution to the shortage of operators, but also an opportunity to increase the professionalization of transportation, reduce accidents, and improve the quality of life of its drivers. 

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El cargo TRL takes the road with Apex to train new operators and improve road safety apareció primero en T21.

2025 started with the brakes on for the trucking industry . Global uncertainty , tightening trade policies, and the threat of new tariffs are keeping those who drive the Mexican economy on edge, according to Fernando Noriega, CEO of Idealease Mexico .

Noriega described a first half of the year marked by a slowdown. “The end consumer in Mexico showed no year-over-year growth, and that kept the sector stressed,” he noted.

Added to this are long-standing challenges such as road safety , he said, and a continuing shortage of operators .

In this context, leasing units, particularly those that include maintenance, has become a viable alternative for maintaining operational flow without compromising the liquidity of trucking companies, Noriega said.

While short-term commercial rent contracted in the first half of the year, long-term contracts gained ground in response to an uncertain economic environment.

The focus, Noriega commented, is to help companies operate without having to invest in their own assets , especially when their business isn’t fleet management. “It allows them to grow without losing capital,” he emphasized.

Telemetry has also become key. All trucks in its fleet, which totals 3,200 units, are equipped with technology to monitor routes, detect faults before they occur, and analyze driving behavior .

“No matter who maintains the truck, there will always be a risk of breakdowns. The important thing is to anticipate them and respond,” he explained.

Noriega emphasized that while the Technology & Maintenance Council (the technical body that issues best practices for vehicle maintenance in the United States) standard allows for up to 10% of roadside failures, at Idealease this figure remains at 6%, thanks to the use of telemetry, which allows for anticipating breakdowns and reducing downtime.

This visibility is also useful for optimizing routes, monitoring fuel consumption, and issuing alerts in areas with high crime rates.

The new heavy vehicle market , for its part, also felt the slowdown, Noriega said.

“Retail placement fell between 20% and 22%,” he explained. However, the company managed to maintain its rental unit placement rate, aiming for growth during the second half of the year, which is traditionally more dynamic thanks to events such as the Buen Fin festival and holiday shopping.

Another issue that has impacted the business is the used market . Upon expiration of contracts, the units are placed on the secondary market, which has also been affected by the import of used vehicles from the United States, he said.

Despite this, the leasing-with-maintenance model continues to establish itself as an attractive option for companies of all sizes, from single-car trucks to large fleets , he explained.

Looking ahead, the company’s goal is ambitious: to increase its production from 3,200 units to 5,000 in the next five years , and in the long term, to reach 15,000 .

But beyond operational growth, for Fernando Noriega, leadership also involves developing better people.

“Our goal is to create mobility solutions so products arrive on time, but also to leave the country with better human beings. And that’s achieved through education, training, and working from childhood,” he reflected.

In a sector where challenges seem relentless, Noriega relies on a simple but powerful philosophy: persist, insist, be consistent, and never lose resilience.

“That’s what we have to do. Adapt to change and move forward,” he said.

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El cargo Leasing with maintenance: the bet for a challenging 2025 for the trucking industry apareció primero en T21.

In the most recent State of Connected Operations Report: “Behind the Wheel: Distracted Driving in Physical Operations,” conducted by Samsara , 1,550 operators from seven different countries were surveyed, 150 of whom were in Mexico. It was found that eight out of 10 were at risk of an accident due to operating mobile devices while driving.

“Cell phone use alone is one of the main risk factors, which shows us that employers have a responsibility and an opportunity,” said Brendali López, Marketing Director of Samsara in Mexico.

From the executive’s perspective, Samsara identifies an area of ​​opportunity in the processes that can be implemented and the security policies that can be outlined, based on the use of cameras as a support tool for operators, who sometimes have to deal with instructions via mobile phones, which can become a risky situation.

Among the findings of the State of Connected Operations Report is that operators have already accepted the use of cameras in the cabs of tractor-trailers, precisely because they have realized the benefits to their operations that this entails, “and not just that they are monitoring me or that they want to audit me ,” López emphasized.

In addition to the above, greater awareness and sensitivity are also being generated regarding the responsibility of sharing the roads, and technological tools are key to achieving safer operations.

In the latter, the study conducted by Samsara identified that when drivers view video captured by cameras and see their driving habits , it helps them improve and adjust their driving.

One element highlighted in the Samsara report is that the use of technology, and dash cams in particular, contributes to driver retention efforts, as 87% of drivers in the study stated. According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , the driver shortage represented 99,000 jobs in Mexico by 2024.

Brendali López emphasized that for companies that leverage the data generated by technology, it allows them to move from penalizing drivers to fostering better driving habits, “by extracting videos and generating training flows that translate into better processes and, consequently, better service.”

When seeking to identify what is the motivating factor for the incorporation of this type of technology in trucking companies today, Brendali said that from her perspective it is a holistic solution, where although it has a productivity effect that helps operators want to work in this company because it translates into income, “but also if we talk about safety , it results in accident prevention, which more than material savings, impacts lives . “

In addition, it has an impact on work culture, enabling better training processes and leveraging technology to achieve better results, as already mentioned regarding retention.

These results have also contributed to the operator’s voice being heard more and have even become a decision-making factor in the purchase of this type of technology.

“The study shows us that (operators) are already an influential factor in organizations’ decisions, because they are a strong, powerful voice, which also keeps these physical operations moving,” Brendali López emphasized.

Findings from the State of Connected Operations Report: “Behind the Wheel: Distracted Driving in Physical Operations,” regarding Mexican operators:

• 83% are often distracted by their personal mobile devices.
• Within the 83% percentage:
  • 33% make calls.
  • 28% check social networks.
  • 28% read messages.
• 80% of them have experienced a “near miss.”
• 71% of drivers have to use their mobile device for work tasks.
• 95% of operators receive training and advice through the implemented technologies.

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El cargo Technology, key to operator retention and process improvement: Samsara apareció primero en T21.

Like a television series with endless seasons, the story of the shortage of trucking operators in Mexico has developed over time, but its outcome remains uncertain.

The worrying thing is that this is not fiction, but the reality of the trucking industry , which is constantly growing, chapter after chapter, with increasingly intense dramas.

Vacancies are increasing and drivers are becoming fewer , and although efforts are being made to find solutions, the shortage persists, and with it, the consequences for the sector and the economy are becoming more serious.

In this real-life series, Mexico is the leading stage for the rise of this shortage , which leads to a deterioration in the country’s competitiveness.

Figures presented by  the International Road Transport Union (IRU) show that, instead of advancing, the sector is stagnating, and projections for 2028 warn that the shortage of operators could reach unprecedented global levels, with more than 106,000 vacancies .

The shocking chapters of this story focus on 2024, according to IRU. In that year, Mexico faced a crisis that cannot be ignored: more than 99,000 driver vacancies , equivalent to 15% of the available positions in the country. This figure is a significant increase compared to the 56,000 vacancies recorded in 2023, reflecting the growing driver shortage and underscoring the magnitude of the problem.

But this country is not the only one affected, however, its reality is particularly serious , ranking second with the greatest lack of operators, only below Europe .

As the global driver shortage crisis continues, the challenge of filling vacancies in key countries remains daunting. According to the IRU 2024 report , 78% of companies in Mexico are facing severe or very severe difficulties filling driver positions, a significant increase from 67% in 2023 .

This phenomenon is not unique to Mexico, as Argentina , Turkey , and Australia face similar challenges, with 57% of companies in Argentina , 61% in Turkey , and 43% in Australia reporting serious difficulties. Although the situation appears to be improving slightly in Europe and Uzbekistan , the projections remain discouraging, indicating that the shortage is a structural problem worldwide.

Women in trucking, a challenge

The representation of women in trucking remains extremely low worldwide, and Mexico is no exception. According to the IRU 2024 Report, women represent only 1.9% of truck drivers in Mexico. Meanwhile, the United States ranks as the country with the highest female participation, at 6.9%.

Female representation in this sector is urgently needed, as the lack of female participation limits recruitment options and adds pressure to a crisis that already faces serious difficulties in attracting new drivers.

Working conditions, a lack of safe infrastructure, and a negative image of the profession are some of the most cited reasons for this shortage. Long hours away from home, poor infrastructure for female drivers, and the treatment received at delivery points are additional barriers that hinder the integration of more women into the sector.

The IRU report highlights that, despite efforts by some countries and companies to improve the inclusion of women in the sector, the figure remains disproportionately low.

Causes of the shortage of operators in Mexico

The generational gap in the trucking sector remains one of the biggest challenges. In 2024, only 10.2% of drivers in Mexico are under 25 years old , while 31.6% are over 55 .

This generational mismatch is reflected globally, with Spain and Australia recording high percentages of older drivers (50% and 47%, respectively). According to IRU, 3.4 million truck drivers are expected to retire in the countries studied over the next five years , further exacerbating the driver shortage crisis.

Working conditions still lack attractive incentives for young people. Long wait times at charging stations, a lack of adequate infrastructure for drivers, and the physical and emotional demands of the job contribute to high staff turnover.

Meanwhile, 30% of operators are approaching retirement, creating a talent gap that is difficult to fill.

Amid this situation, Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General of the IRU, warned that “there is no magic bullet to resolve the crisis, but we must close the widening age gap and treat drivers with more respect and dignity. Young drivers are very satisfied: therefore, it’s not about retention, but about improving access to the driving profession and its attractiveness, especially for young people.”

Road insecurity also plays a key role in driving the driver shortage. In its 2022 report, the IRU highlighted that cargo theft and road violence are factors that discourage drivers and contribute to their abandonment of the profession.

The constant risk of falling victim to these acts is driving many operators to seek safer alternatives, leaving Mexico’s routes empty.

Regarding this issue, the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERPV) warned that in March 2025, theft from heavy vehicles was the main target, with 146 incidents in that month alone.

As the sector faces these challenges, the IRU has proposed several key solutions. Improving working conditions, road safety, and the inclusion of women and youth in the sector are priority areas.

“The driver shortage isn’t just a concern for freight transport; it’s a global economic crisis affecting supply chains,” said Umberto de Pretto.

With projections unfolding as an unexpected plot twist , the operator shortage continues to worsen, but the future still holds potential for change. The next chapter in this story can bring solutions, provided action is taken swiftly and decisively. Ensuring the sector has a diverse , secure , and well-compensated workforce is essential , as this is the only way to ensure a positive ending to this story .

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El cargo Mexico, the protagonist of the growing shortage of operators in the trucking industry apareció primero en T21.