Last February, Super Transporte Internacional (STI) reached its first 33 years of operation, where all the knowledge of its founders, who have a little more experience in the motor transport industry, is imprinted.

And although this anniversary was achieved in a complex industry cycle, the experience of its management team and its collaborators, as well as the company’s fundamentals , have been key to overcoming a challenging 2025 , and remaining solid in the face of an uncertain 2026 , but one that promises a better scenario.

“2025 presented us with a scenario that no one could have predicted, and that impacted the international transit of goods, which is our main market. With tariffs, particularly on steel and aluminum, we were forced to be creative and agile in our response to reposition the team and seek organic growth with clients in other areas,” Ángel Hernández Gaytán, CEO of STI (number 13 in the Top 100 of Autotransport® ), told T21.

The executive noted that although STI has faced other critical moments throughout its history, such as the 2008-2009 subprime mortgage crisis in the United States, which had a global impact, or the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the company’s fundamentals were key to overcoming this period.

“We have a solid client portfolio that allows us to serve them effectively, but we have also built long-term relationships; with some of our clients we have been working for over 20 years . This also extends to our employees ; some have been with us almost since the company began and continue to be involved,” added Ángel Hernández, who joined STI in 2001.

In the context of the trade war, according to figures from the United States Department of Commerce , Mexico contributed 15.3% of the total trade of that country , consolidating itself as the main trading partner above Canada and well above China.

The border crossing remains the main point of entry between the two countries, totaling $353.94 billion in 2025, driven by a 7.7% increase in Mexican exports to the United States, which reached $227.11 billion. Conversely, exports from Mexico to the United States contracted by 1.11%, settling at $126.83 billion.

The positive trend has continued for the first two months, according to comments by Ángel Hernández, and according to STI’s operations in both periods, there is growth compared to the same cycle in 2025.

Given this market, which is expected to recover, some of STI’s strengths, as identified by its CEO, include financial discipline , which is currently a key asset. Since most of its revenue is in dollars, and the “super peso” (a reference to the strong peso) , this has an impact on its financial structure that must be managed with clients.

“It forces us to be close to our clients and make them aware of this reality of currency losses. We have been negotiating especially with those who operate spot routes ; with those whose routes we have contracted, it is more complex, but we are looking for ways to compensate. Ideally, we want to operate within the range of 20 pesos per dollar,” Hernández Gaytán explained.

Based on data from the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) , the highest exchange rate in 2025 was 20.85 pesos per dollar , reached on March 6 of that year, and if compared against the level reached on March 9, 2026, the exchange rate difference is -15.2 percent .

This situation may have an impact on the search to modernize the fleet and keep it current, an effect that for STI was not so profound, since in 2024 they had made the pre-purchase of units considered to incorporate into the fleet in 2025.

In 2025, the company’s focus was on the trailer team , “which served the growth of our divisions, both specialized and dry van for international and local market movements, as well as to support the logistics divisions,” described Ángel Hernández.

In addition, a key aspect of STI’s strategy is the institutionalization of the company, where, although some management positions are held by family members, there is a professional rigor to ensure they remain in their positions.

This factor is fundamental to conveying certainty to customers and various stakeholders about the path the company will follow over time.

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El cargo A 33-year-old chassis allows STI to tackle complex cycles apareció primero en T21.

At least seven out of 10 mines in Mexico do not use specialized vehicles , which represents high costs, greater physical strain on operators, and less safe working environments, Scania Mexico warned.

In the context of National Miners’ Day, the Swedish company noted that transportation for this activity must guarantee operator well-being through ergonomic cabins, state-of-the-art braking systems, and reinforced suspensions for safe handling in extreme terrain.

Therefore, he called for strengthening specialized transportation and the supply chain in mining , through services and products that contribute to making the sector more profitable and sustainable.

Operational efficiency, profitability, and environmental commitment in the extraction of metals and minerals are key factors that will define Mexico’s role in the new geopolitical mining landscape, the company emphasized in a statement.

“One of the sector’s main needs is the fastest possible movement of extracted minerals and metals in the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible cost. In terms of transportation, every liter of diesel consumed and every minute of downtime directly impacts the return on investment of projects,” said Said Vivas Sáenz, Director of Transportation Solutions for Mining, Special Applications, and Engines at Scania Mexico.

Mexico has seven of the 21 metals—including copper, graphite, and manganese—  classified by the International Energy Agency (IEA)  as essential for the development of clean technologies and batteries. Given this advantage, Scania believes the country must position itself as a leader in the global energy transition , and therefore must begin optimizing mining transportation.

Towards operational efficiency

Scania Mexico highlighted the efficiency of mines in Banámichi, Sonora, and Fresnillo, Zacatecas, which operate with vehicles fully adapted for mining and achieved fuel savings of between 35% and 37% , in addition to a significant reduction in the emission of pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Vivas Sáenz emphasized that specialized vehicles are essential to improving the sector’s efficiency and that, to position Mexico in the global mining sector, incorporating smart technology throughout the supply chain is key.

The mining industry in Mexico is among the five most important in the country , according to the Ministry of Economy , which indicated that in the fourth quarter of 2024 this sector generated a GDP of 1.13 billion pesos, with a growth of 2.4% compared to the previous quarter, and that it employs more than 300,000 people.

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El cargo Scania calls for specialized transport in Mexico’s mining sector apareció primero en T21.

Her father operated heavy machinery, specifically backhoes , but what fascinated her were her colleagues’ vehicles. Although he insisted it was “men’s work ,” the seed had already been planted.

Years passed. The dream seemed to be dormant, until, at 34, she decided to awaken it. She entered a training program exclusively for female operators , earned her education, and made her way there.

Today, Maribel is the only female operator in Bulkmatic ‘s specialized transport segment , where she drives units with pressurized hoppers , a type of technical cargo that requires precision, strength and operational mastery.

Bulkmatic is a transportation and logistics company with the most extensive network of rail terminals in Mexico. It is an essential part of the supply chain for multiple industries , transporting a wide variety of bulk materials from sectors such as plastics, food, hydrocarbons, and chemicals.

These products, mostly received through rail trucks , are distributed by land to customers throughout Mexico.

But moving products in pressurized hoppers isn’t just a matter of strength or handling: it’s about understanding a closed system with highly technical demands, Maribel said.

Unlike other types of transportation, here every connection must be airtight, every valve must operate precisely, and every hose must withstand constant pressure without margin of error.

Knowledge of the behavior of the transported material, rigorous cleaning protocols, and mastery of pneumatic equipment are required.

Not just anyone can do it. That’s why we call it specialized transport , because behind every ton there’s a person who not only drives, but also understands the process from start to finish, and at Bulkmatic, that person can also be a woman . And right there, in the middle of this complex and specialized operation, Maribel appears.

Her day begins before dawn. Maribel doesn’t just check the logbook and the physical condition of the unit. She has to inspect the pneumatic pressure system , verify that the valves are in good condition, prepare the connection equipment for the transfer, and ensure the hopper is dry, clean, and free of contaminants, because what she transports (plastic resins and food-grade products) requires strict hygiene, traceability, and safety conditions .

Once ready, the truck is attached to the hopper and launched onto the road. The loading system uses blowers that, under pressure, draw the product from the original wagon or container into the hopper.

Then, at the destination, the same process is reversed: it’s connected to the customer’s silos (containers) and unloaded under pressure. The entire system is operated by itself .

Maribel had already worked in dry vans , but she has no doubts: “Back then, the hard part was driving. Here, that’s the least of it. The hard part is what comes next: handling large-diameter hoses, fitting hermetic connections, withstanding heat, pressure, and weight—but if you like it, you’ll do it with pleasure,” she said, still smiling.

When she arrived at Bulkmatic, the initial intention was to take care of her. Assign her only driving routes, no transfers. “We didn’t want her to get hurt,” recalled Cindy Flores, head of Human Resources. But Maribel insisted. She wanted to learn.

“He taught us a lesson. Today, he masters every step of the process with the same expertise as his peers,” Flores explained.

In a country where operators are needed, with more than 99,000 vacancies by the end of 2024 , according to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , she breaks the statistics, because she not only fills a position, she redefines it.

“To women who dream of this, I would say, dare. You can do it, believe in yourself,” Maribel said enthusiastically.

And the risks? They’re there, but Maribel feels protected. The company supports her with internal and external cameras, a panic button, a real-time alert system, and 24/7 active monitoring.

“If something happens, they know where I am. That gives them a lot of peace of mind,” Maribel explained, acknowledging the insecurity faced by trucking in Mexico , but knowing that her company provides her with protection tools.

Her children, now teenagers, were hesitant at first. “You don’t like the sun,” they told her. Today, they see her return with a twinkle in her eyes. She said they admire her, they brag about her.

When asked how she sees herself in five years, she doesn’t hesitate: “More professional, more prepared. Inspiring other women. I want them to hear my story and say: If she could do it, I can too,” she emphasized.

And she does, because Maribel doesn’t just operate a specialized technical unit; she’s leading a transformation that began when she was a child and wasn’t allowed to ride one of those giants. Today, from Monterrey, Nuevo León, she rides every day, and she doesn’t just move cargo; she pushes boundaries and breaks new ground .

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El cargo While other girls played, she dreamed of driving a giant apareció primero en T21.