However, there are still challenges to face. Currently in Mexico, women suffer a wage gap of between 22% and 28% for the same position compared to men , despite working longer hours. Furthermore, they lack the same level of motivation to obtain the same position.

One story that shows glimpses of the above is that of Clara Fragoso, an operator with Super Transporte Internacional (STI) , who is one of the women who has been operating a tractor-trailer for 20 years . The beginning of that journey, she said, was not difficult, “but terrifying. There were no opportunities for us. The belief system that women were only made to stay at home and when I come along and tell them I wanted to drive a tractor-trailer, it was like, ‘You’re crazy.'”

Even though it was one of the most difficult times in her life, she persevered. “When I arrived at the transport industry and saw the life in transport, their lifestyle was surprising, and as a woman, it was very difficult to adapt, and I didn’t see it as necessary. Even the conditions were terrible for them, and I thought: why do they allow this? Operating a trailer is no different than having a decent life, and I clung to that,” Fragoso recalled.

Clara also went through a difficult personal period: a breakup and, in the process, a job search. Later, she had the opportunity to operate a tractor-trailer, but she faced harassment, bullying, and a lack of opportunities .

“They asked me if I was afraid of operating a trailer, and I told them: I’m more afraid of going back to that moment with my son and saying, ‘I don’t have anything to feed you,’” she emphasized during the Women in the Industry panel at the 100 Women in Transportation and Logisticsevent , organized by T21.

Shantal Torres, procurement director of Leschaco Mexicana , with almost 30 years of experience, explained that throughout this time she has worked in different areas, although the one she is in now has faced challenges .

“We know that in this industry, some more than others, the male presence is stronger, and sometimes—not because I’m a woman, but also because of my age—I’ve encountered some barriers to success. But I feel very proud; today, at 25, it’s totally different. It’s a very challenging but fulfilling career, with transportation, railroads, shipping companies, freight forwarders—this industry isn’t boring,” she explained.

Erika Quezada, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at DHL Express , recalled two pieces of advice that have worked for her professionally. First, “have the necessary training and knowledge to feel confident ,” and second, “create credibility and transparency within the organizations we belong to.”

“I’ve had it happen to me that when you start talking about a customs or transportation issue, especially in a male setting, the comment, ‘Oh, look, he knows,’ then you gain their attention and seriousness, allowing you to develop. This builds confidence and credibility for yourself. We should never limit ourselves from accessing leadership roles,” she explained.

Likewise, he stressed the importance of having a support network of family members and also having time for professional and personal commitments.

Opening doors

Clara Fragoso stated that opening up a space for women in an industry like trucking was driven by the stories of other women who have experienced violence, abandonment, need, and, above all, raising their children.

“That has been a very important part for me, telling them that it’s possible and letting them know through my work that women can do it, and do it well, that we do it just like them. Women in transportation will open many doors for them as entrepreneurs with the response in our work; by doing it with actions, we have achieved great openness,” she emphasized.

In this regard, she stated that for the past five years, there has been a significant shift to integrate more female personnel into the sector, and that the Association of Women Cargo Vehicle Operators (AMO) has been established .

However, she explained that there are still challenges to overcome, such as providing a safe, harassment-free space, comprehensive training, dedicated spaces, and equitable salaries .

Erika Quezada commented that within DHL Express, there are groups focused on gender diversity and inclusion , and although there are few female operators, they seek opportunities to strengthen their participation. She also considered it necessary to promote sisterhood, “because together we are stronger.”

Meanwhile, Shantal Torres mentioned that Leschaco has promoted the inclusion of all people; she also reiterated that “we all have that feeling that we can do more, we can do better, and not just because of gender differences.”

Laura Hernández Hernández, Business Manager for BNSF Railway , said the U.S. railroad is headed by a woman for the first time, and has also created various support groups, including Pride, focused on the LGBT community .

He maintained that at some point, we’ll reach a stage where we only see talent, qualities, and a single drive: being human beings and, above all, professionals, “logistics and transportation people, and we integrate.”

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El cargo With leadership and vision, women are transforming logistics and transportation apareció primero en T21.

The 50% increase in tariffs on steel and aluminum imposed by the United States government has begun to generate uncertainty among logistics operators, especially those linked to the movement of materials for heavy industry, according to Ángel Hernández Gaytán , general director of Super Transporte Internacional (STI) .

“We have been affected, especially in the case of steel. We move a lot of raw materials, such as coils and profiles that are exported from Mexico to the United States, and we have noticed a decrease in movements at plants that handle large export volumes, mainly due to the high 50% tariff,” Hernández explained.

The impact also affects aluminum , whose application is transversal to various industries. “So many goods aren’t made with aluminum, always soda cans, beer cans; nowadays, there’s a high tariff on everything,” he added.

Hernández also noted that the trucking industry expects a prompt solution from the Mexican government and recalled statements by “Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of the Economy, that there was a discussion and a dialogue with the American authorities to reduce the impact of the 50% tariff.”

According to the Ministry of Economy (SE) , in 2024 the total commercial exchange of iron or steel articles reached 20 thousand 694 million dollars (mdd) , with exports for nine thousand 797 million dollars and imports for 10 thousand 897 million dollars .

The United States remained the main destination for these Mexican exports, with $7.763 billion , followed by Canada and Saudi Arabia. Nationally, Nuevo León, Veracruz, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas were the states with the highest international sales of these products.

Hernández also acknowledged that the measure has had consequences for the sector:

“Yes, there is an impact. Although we’ve already said it, there’s an imbalance in Mexico, right? The trade balance is in favor of the United States over Mexico. But even so, exports continue to have a significant impact, speaking of our trucking sector and transporters located at strategic border points,” he noted.

The most immediate consequence, according to the executive, is uncertainty in decision-making. “It hasn’t allowed them to develop long-term plans. Today, those plans are changing every 20 or 30 days based on new news and what’s coming.”

Ángel Hernández believed that uncertainty will persist as long as the groundwork for renegotiation is not clearly defined. “Until the basics and a direction are established, that’s when we’ll have the certainty the entire market needs.”

The tariff increase was officially announced by the United States government on June 4, when it doubled the tax on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% .

The measure, promoted by the Donald Trump administration , is intended to strengthen domestic production of these inputs, although it has been described as “unfair” and without legal basis by Mexican authorities.

In response, the Mexican government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has held meetings with U.S. officials seeking a solution that would reduce the bilateral impact.

Meanwhile, industry organizations such as the National Chamber of the Iron and Steel Industry (Canacero) and the National Chamber of the Aluminum Industry (Canalum) have warned of the risks to cross-border trade and the supply chain, especially in strategic sectors such as trucking.

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El cargo Steel and aluminum tariffs slow trucking operations apareció primero en T21.

The history of this company is not measured in trucks, but in strategic decisions , resilience, and a true passion for service.

“We don’t want to be the biggest, we want to be the best.” That phrase isn’t an improvised slogan. It’s a motto Hernández learned in the halls of the company his family founded. And he doesn’t just repeat it: he lives it.

Founded in 1993, STI was born from the foresight of Ernesto Gaytán Palomo, who knew how to interpret the new commercial map and decided to establish the company as a public limited company.

Since then, the company’s specialty has been crossing borders, both physical and operational, with its own team, door-to-door solutions, and a binational approach between Mexico and the United States.

Hernández formally joined the team in 2001, after having worked in various areas such as maintenance, administration, customer service, and sales. He earned his academic training while learning in the field, and beyond titles or positions, he developed a leadership style that prioritizes respect , closeness, and balance. “We don’t cross lines here. We walk alongside the team,” he explained.

Under his leadership, STI has weathered economic challenges, the impact of the pandemic, and the ups and downs of political decisions in the United States.

“These are environments that don’t depend on you, but rather on how you decide to deal with them,” he said. From these shocks, lessons have emerged that today allow us to maintain a stable operation with sound finances.

The company currently maintains a fleet of more than 500 units , but its trailer fleet has grown exponentially , especially in the last three years. It was also recognized at the T21 Group’s 2024 Transportation Awards and earned the Drive Is Great certification for its commitment to best practices and continuous improvement.

STI’s operations have historically been linked to specialized transport: open platforms, oversized trucks, and multi-axle modular vehicles , designed for complex loads requiring precision and terrain knowledge. Other segments have been added to this line, such as the dry van segment , which has been growing steadily.

This diversification of services was a natural response to customer demand. Demand spoke, and the company listened. Thus, quietly, it consolidated new routes without abandoning its specialty.

Despite having structure, clients, and growth plans, STI faces a challenge: insecurity and a shortage of operators.

Far from sitting idly by, the company created its own training institute , with top-level simulators and alliances with institutions such as the Industrial Work Training Centers (Cecati) and technological universities.

“We want to train professional operators from within. That’s a very serious commitment,” Hernández stated.

Among the goals for 2025 is the renewal of 15% of the vehicle fleet , and the consolidation of this new generation of professional operators .

In addition, land has been acquired in Monterrey to build a new terminal , continuing the infrastructure investment strategy that has been strengthened in recent years.

But beyond the numbers, there is a line that defines the heart of the company: always being there.

“We don’t disappear when there are problems. We stay. We respond on weekends and holidays, when others don’t,” he said.

That attitude not only generated trust, but also opened doors with clients who hadn’t previously been on their radar.

Today, STI is part of a group that includes more than 13 companies between Mexico and the United States, and has more than 600 employees on the Mexican side alone.

Some measure their success in tons and kilometers traveled, but others, like STI, measure it in trust earned, trained operators, and well-made decisions. They don’t seek to be the biggest, they seek to be the best, and that, perhaps, is the most difficult path, but also the most solid.

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El cargo STI and its commitment to being, serving and supporting apareció primero en T21.

The Mexican automotive industry is one of the most closely linked to the United States. In the first two months of 2025, 478,366 units were exported, of which 402,986 (84.2%) were destined for the United States, according to figures from the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI).

In addition, Mexico is the leading supplier of vehicles to the United States, surpassing South Korea, Japan, and Germany.

As part of a business strategy, Super Transporte Internacional (STI) has expanded its operations yard to accommodate the storage of more than 500 finished vehicles, providing immediate support to automotive customers facing logistical challenges due to tariffs.

According to a statement shared by the company, this adjustment is not just an operational improvement: “It is a clear message that STI is up to the global challenge, responding with real solutions, available physical space, and a long-term vision.”

“Rather than seeing tariffs as an obstacle, we’re turning them into an opportunity to support our customers more than ever,” STI’s management team stated.

The yard expansion is part of a comprehensive operational adjustment, which includes route optimization and reduced delivery times, direct coordination with customs and agents to streamline processes in response to new requirements, and specialized support for assembly plants and auto parts suppliers with just-in-time shipments.

Another element STI has focused on is security, with controlled access and 24/7 surveillance, compliance with international quality and logistics security standards, and real-time tracking to ensure traceability and visibility throughout the entire operation.

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El cargo Even with the threat of tariffs, STI maintains investments in its automotive division apareció primero en T21.

In the cumulative period from January to September of this year, trade between Mexico and the United States that was operated through the Laredo border port accumulated 254.4 billion dollars (mdd) , an increase of 5.74% compared to the same cycle in 2023, according to the United States Department of Commerce .

The commercial dynamics between Mexico and the United States motivate a logistical dynamic in Laredo that is not only manifested in the movement of transport units, but also in storage capacity.

Aware that infrastructure is key to serving a demanding market, Super Transporte Internacional (STI) maintains the dynamic of renewing its fleet of tractor trucks to maintain an average age of four years and even reduce it.

To end the year with this dynamic, STI will receive from now until the rest of the year a total of 30 Kenworth T680 and T880 tractor trucks to renew the fleet of its two market divisions: specialized cargo and dry vans.

Based on information obtained from STI, Kenworth del Río Bravo made the symbolic delivery of the first 30 units that will be integrated into the STI fleet, and which are aimed at renewing the vehicle fleet.

“The units are intended to renew the fleet that we are bringing out, both for the dry box division and for the specialized one,” said Ángel Hernández, general manager of STI. With these deliveries, the color of the tractor-trailers will be defined according to their applications, “the white ones will be to identify the dry box operation, while the black ones will be for our specialized division.”

Given the configuration of STI’s operations, 60% of them are focused on the specialized transport division , while the remaining 40% is concentrated on dry box operations, in all cases with a presence in the commercial exchange between Mexico and the United States.

Recently, STI integrated 10 International LT tractor trucks , which are focused on the growth of the specialized division.

As part of the delivery of the Kenworth tractor-trailer fleet, the occasion was taken to unveil the commemorative plaque in honor of Felipe Gaytán Palomo, founder of STI, who passed away last June. As part of the recognitions made, the plaque is located on the classic 1971 Kenworth tractor-trailer, the date that coincides with Felipe Gaytán’s birth.

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El cargo MODERN FLEET, KEY TO PROGRESS IN THE STI MARKET apareció primero en T21.

NUEVO LAREDO, TAMPS.- A few minutes before 5 p.m. local time, the MT Mexico Frontera Nuevo Laredo grandstand and the sponsor stands near the main stage were packed. Shouts, slogans, signs with messages for their operators, noisemakers and pom-poms were present.

In its fifth edition in Nuevo Laredo and with 11 events in conjunction with other venues such as Tijuana (Baja California) and Allende (Nuevo León), MT Mexico confirmed its objective of being an initiative to recognize the important work carried out by operators, but also with the desire to engage society in this activity.

On this occasion, 114 operators took to the starting grid in Nuevo Laredo, participating in the Sleeper Cab, Day Cab and Cab Over categories. During two days of qualifying competition, they competed to be “The Boss” of the 5th edition of MT Mexico Frontera Nuevo Laredo.

“We must congratulate the winners and the participants for all the adrenaline they generated for us,” said Eduardo Lozano, vice president of the Central de Servicios de Carga de Nuevo Laredo (CenSeCar), in a message at the awards ceremony.

The CenSeCar of Nuevo Laredo, together with the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) and the CenSeCar of Nuevo León , are the presenters of the event, which had the support of the municipality of Nuevo Laredo.

Eduardo Lozano took the opportunity to invite all those interested in the 2025 edition , as well as to recognize the work of the organizers, Posdata MX.

Hector Hinojosa, Canacar delegate in Nuevo Laredo, acknowledged the work of all the participants, organizers and sponsors who made it possible to hold the fifth edition of MT Mexico in the Nuevo Laredo area.

The winners in each of the categories were the following:

Well-deserved recognition

As part of the celebration of MT Mexico Frontera Nuevo Laredo, the opportunity was taken to recognize two businessmen from the region who passed away this year.

The first of the posthumous awards was for Felipe Gaytán Palomo, former CEO of Grupo STI, who passed away last June.

Felipe Gaytán was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the MT model , a task that led to the creation of a committee that was formed to make it possible to hold the first edition of this competition in December 2020.

The other recognized character was Jesús Quiroga, who founded Quiroga Trucking , and who also passed away in 2024.

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El cargo MT México “Accelerates” Family Engagement and Recognition for Operators apareció primero en T21.

Imports of capital goods used to increase productive activity in Mexico are maintaining a positive pace. According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), for the period January to April, imports of capital goods total 20.5 billion dollars (USD), marking an increase of 16.4% compared to the same period in 2023 and 41.6% compared to 2022.

This situation has led to an increased demand for services at Súper Transporte Internacional (STI) in the open equipment segment, which is geared towards specialized services, particularly during the second quarter of 2024 (2Q24). Ángel Hernández Gaytán, Deputy General Director of STI, mentioned to T21 that there has been a rise in these operations during this period.

Open equipment pertains to machinery and instruments used in manufacturing or maintaining equipment, such as robotics, presses, and generators, all essential for plant openings or expansions,” Hernández Gaytán elaborated.

Within STI’s structure, 60% of its operations are generated by the specialized equipment division, while the remaining 40% is contributed by the dry van unit, which is also involved in Mexico’s trade with North America.

“The movement of dry van for regular cargo in import/export activities has been balanced during the first five months of the year, despite not experiencing exponential growth, the flow has been maintained,” highlighted Ángel Hernández.

Regarding exchange rate movements, where the peso has depreciated against the dollar, the executive recalled a long period of adverse relations, thus benefiting primarily companies operating on the border.

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El cargo STI takes Advantage of Increase in Manufacturing Plant in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

In the most recent edition of the Samsara study called: “Smarter, Faster, Safer: The AI ​​Revolution in Mexican Physical Operations”, which identifies the situation faced in connected operations, where 150 leaders participated Mexicans from industry and various companies.

The report generated by Samsara identifies how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming safety, efficiency and productivity in key industries worldwide,and particularly in Mexico.

1,550 operations leaders in seven countries, including Mexico, participated in the exercise motivated by Samsara. It highlights the fundamental role that AI plays in improving operations within organizations, which generate more than 40% of the Internal Product. World gross (GDP).

Among the research findings is that 94% of operations leaders surveyed believe their organization needs to invest in artificial intelligence technology solutions to stay up to date in the current environment.

“AI is everywhere and physical operations are rapidly adopting it,” said Evan Welbourne, director of AI and Data at Samsara. “When used strategically, these AI advances can bring significant changes to the organizations that drive our global economy.”

Mexico with favorable prospects

For 94% of leaders who participated in this research, AI is vital to staying ahead, while 87% of organizations say they plan to increase investments in AI in the next 12 months.

In this context, Samsara’s research reveals that Mexico is leading the adoption of AI in physical operations. “The country’s high level of AI maturity is indicative of this region’s focus on road safety and property security, areas where AI technology, such as dash cameras, is already generating a return on investment.” significant,” Samsara reported.

In Mexico, 50% of leaders say that the use of AI is “widespread” within their organization, meaning that AI is used in all departments and employees are trained on how to use it, more than in any other country surveyed. Canada (34%) and the United States (38%) are not far behind, which may be due to the fact that 41% of North American leaders say they are rushing to invest in the latest technology solutions, compared to 24%. of European leaders. However, 80% of European leaders report that they plan to increase their investments in AI in the next year, suggesting that it will not take long for adoption to become widespread, regardless of region.

In the case of Mexico, two examples of how AI technology is transforming the landscape of physical operations in Mexico are companies such as Súper Transporte Internacional (STI) , a firm focused on commercial exchange in North America, which resulted in a reduction in 18% in accident-related expenses and a 12% decrease in driver turnover.

Mexicana Logistics also stands out in this success story , specializing in the transportation of trucks and vehicles, which reduced delays in the departure of units by 80 percent.

A telling fact is that AI is not considered an experimental technology for the industries that keep the global economy running. More than half (51%) of leaders surveyed say their organization is already using AI, and the most significant reported benefits include improved safety (45%) and employee productivity (42%).

Recognizing the importance of data security, 58% of organizations using AI or planning to implement it in the next one to two years are prioritizing data protection and privacy measures.

In terms of readiness for AI regulatory frameworks, Mexico is one of the top three countries surveyed reporting the highest levels of readiness in terms of privacy and data protection (85%), along with the United States (87%) and Canada (82%), although Europe is not far behind.

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El cargo Samsara Study Reveals Adoption of AI in Mexico, Which Countries Does it Surpass? apareció primero en T21.