For years, fleet monitoring consisted of knowing a vehicle’s location and reacting when an incident occurred. Today, the challenge is different: interpreting large volumes of information in real time to anticipate risks before they affect operations.

For María de los Ángeles Useche, Commercial Director of Total Protect , artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to accelerate this transition. More than just automating tasks, it allows for the simultaneous analysis of variables that were previously isolated, such as speed, routes, weather conditions, driver behavior, and road history, transforming them into preventative alerts that help in making decisions before an accident or attempted robbery occurs.

Useche told T21 that the main challenge currently facing transport companies is not the lack of information, but the ability to process it quickly.

“I would sum it up in one word: immediacy,” he stated.

He explained that AI allows processing large volumes of data virtually in real time , making it possible to handle a greater number of events without losing personalization in the service and reducing the margin of error that can exist in completely manual processes.

From reactive to predictive monitoring

The real change occurs when data stops being used solely to analyze what has already happened and starts being used to anticipate what might happen.

Predictive models allow for combining historical information with data generated during a vehicle’s journey. If the system identifies a tractor-trailer speeding on a road with a history of high-risk conditions and also detects adverse weather conditions, such as rain, the platform can generate a preventative alert and even communicate with the driver to request a reduction in speed before an incident occurs.

“Predictive data, along with additional layers of information, allows us to protect, care for, and prevent,” he noted.

Although many companies still associate monitoring with visualizing a vehicle on a map , the current operation incorporates much more complex elements.

From a monitoring center it is possible to interpret behavioral patterns, identify areas where robberies have historically occurred, recognize recurring signal losses and activate preventive protocols before an event escalates.

This accumulated knowledge allows analysts to understand the operational context of each trip and make decisions more quickly to protect both the operator and the cargo.

The integration of technologies such as geolocation , telemetry , video surveillance and data analysis significantly expands visibility over a fleet.

While geolocation allows you to know the location of a unit, video surveillance provides visual evidence and telemetry offers information on the vehicle’s condition, driving habits, possible maintenance needs and operational performance.

“If we combine geolocation, video surveillance, and telemetry, we can better understand how the vehicle is working and provide information that makes each trip safer, more efficient, and more profitable,” the executive explained.

Anticipating risks also improves competitiveness

Prevention not only reduces losses; it also strengthens operations.

Useche pointed out that anticipating risks allows for protecting the lives of operators, extending the useful life of vehicles, and offering greater certainty to customers regarding the delivery of their goods.

In a market where thousands of companies compete to offer a more reliable service, the ability to prevent incidents is beginning to become a competitive differentiator.

Currently, Total Protect monitors more than eight thousand cargo transport units and maintains a recovery rate of 95% , a figure that recently increased from 94 to 95%, according to the company.

Furthermore, it is already conducting tests to incorporate artificial intelligence in different areas of its operation with the aim of strengthening its monitoring capabilities and moving towards a model where the information not only allows knowing what is happening during a trip, but also anticipating what could happen.

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Cargo security has evolved beyond simply tracking vehicles. Today, companies are looking for tools that allow them to monitor fuel, temperature, cargo, and operational performance from a single platform.

This transformation responds to both operational needs and the security challenges facing the sector. Cargo theft remains one of the main risks to logistics in Mexico, and according to experts, a driver experiences an incident on the road every 30 minutes .

Given this scenario, technological solutions have ceased to be merely tracking tools and have become comprehensive systems for prevention, monitoring, and operational management.

Based on that premise, Total Protect has expanded its portfolio of solutions with new tools focused on the security of the units and also on fuel control, cold chain and the monitoring of goods during their transport .

The Total Protect ecosystem consists of six main solutions: Total Protect , which integrates the different layers of security; Protect Video , focused on video surveillance; Vault , for the protection of merchandise; Secure , oriented towards the security of the unit and the operator; Locate , focused on geolocation and tracking; and Addons , which incorporates complementary tools such as fuel monitoring, temperature and telemetry.

María de los Ángeles Useche, the company’s Commercial Director, explained to T21 that the development of these products arises from the needs that the customers themselves have expressed as their operations evolve.

“After we managed to reduce the incidence of security incidents, clients started requesting more things. They tell us what is happening in their operations, and from there we look for technologies that are adapted to the Mexican market,” he said.

One of the most recent developments is a monitoring system for refrigerated transport capable of performing up to three simultaneous temperature measurements within the same box.

This allows for the separate monitoring of frozen, chilled, and dry goods using a single device.

The information is recorded throughout the journey, facilitating cargo traceability and allowing the identification of possible temperature deviations or incidents during the trip.

From data to decision making

Another area where the company has detected a growing need is fuel control .

According to María de los Ángeles Useche, nearly half of a fleet’s operating costs correspond to diesel consumption , so losses resulting from illegal extractions or unauthorized unloading can represent significant impacts for carriers.

To address this problem, the company incorporated sensors that allow monitoring the behavior of the tanks in real time and generating geolocated alerts when atypical decreases are detected.

The platform offers information per unit or per fleet, including performance, kilometers traveled and possible fuel extractions.

Beyond generating alerts, the collected information allows carriers to identify consumption patterns , validate performance, detect operational deviations, and make decisions aimed at improving the efficiency of their fleets.

A similar approach is applied to temperature monitoring for sensitive goods. The records generated by these devices provide traceability of the cargo’s journey and facilitate the identification of incidents that could compromise its integrity during transport.

In addition to the economic benefit, the executive assured that visibility into these operations also contributes to changing behaviors within organizations .

“When people know they are being monitored, their habits improve. That’s one of the things we’ve observed in our clients,” he commented.

In this way, the information generated by the various systems ceases to be merely an operational record and becomes a management tool . Analyzing this data allows companies to make more informed decisions regarding safety, productivity, maintenance, and efficiency within their logistics operations.

Video, artificial intelligence, and evidence in the cloud

Technological evolution also reached video surveillance systems.

Currently, Total Protect has platforms that allow evidence to be stored in the cloud to prevent the loss of information in case of damage or tampering with the devices installed in the units.

The solution automatically generates clips associated with specific events, such as panic button activations, sudden braking, or sudden acceleration.

In this way, monitoring operators can review what happened before and after the incident, identify potential risks, and have evidence for investigations or determining liability.

In addition, there is a volumetric camera equipped with a battery and solar panel that allows monitoring of the cargo space inside trailers and boxes.

In addition to detecting unauthorized openings using light sensors, the tool helps verify the correct distribution of merchandise, a factor that can influence the stability and safety of the units during transit.

Centralized monitoring and recovery of up to 97% 

The foundation of all these solutions continues to be the security suite developed by the company.

The ecosystem integrates geolocation, anti-assault systems, engine stop, electronic locks for cargo compartments and video surveillance.

According to data shared by the company, the combination of these tools allows for recovery rates exceeding 95%, and reaching up to 97% when video and merchandise protection systems are incorporated.

Behind these tools operates a centralized monitoring model that allows real-time event monitoring, incident response coordination, and the transformation of operational information into actions to improve fleet safety and efficiency.

The company reported that it conducts approximately nine thousand weekly test runs to verify the proper functioning of GPS, panic buttons, engine stop systems, and other devices installed in the units before starting operations, which allows it to have reliable information to react to any eventuality.

In addition, it recently launched a second alternate monitoring center with backup capacity, with the aim of ensuring operational continuity, maintaining service levels and supporting the growth of its customer base.

A World Cup with more movement… and more risks

Regarding the increase in the movement of goods resulting from the economic activity associated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup , the company anticipates an increase in logistics activity similar to that observed during high-demand seasons such as Black Friday or Christmas.

The strategy includes continuous monitoring of incidents, analysis of road impacts, and constant communication with customers to recommend alternative routes, safe waiting areas, or adjustments to delivery windows.

Useche estimated that the volume of trips could increase between 15 and 20% during these periods of higher activity.

“When there are more vehicles on the road, the risks also increase. That’s why prevention and timely information are essential,” he said.

Constant evolution for transport and logistics

With eight years of experience in the market, Total Protect has developed an ecosystem of solutions focused on security, monitoring and operational management for transport and logistics companies.

During its early years, the firm concentrated its efforts on developing and perfecting technological tools geared towards security and operational management.

“Our DNA is to protect, care, and solve problems,” Useche explained.

Today, the company serves more than 140 organizations , mainly in the transportation and logistics sector, and continues to incorporate new technological capabilities into its security ecosystem.

Among the upcoming developments are applications based on artificial intelligence aimed at analyzing crime patterns, identifying risks, and continuous learning from the incidents that its monitoring center handles daily.

For Useche, the goal is not to add technology based on trends, but to respond to specific problems in Mexican logistics operations.

“Everything we develop has one objective: to solve real problems in the Mexican market. We don’t innovate for the sake of innovation, but to improve operations, save costs, and support our clients,” he stated.

And that’s precisely where the company seeks to differentiate itself. In a sector where risks are constantly evolving, the strategy is no longer limited to reacting to an incident, but to anticipating it.

The combination of monitoring , data analysis , artificial intelligence, and operational knowledge seeks to become a tool that allows companies to make better decisions before a loss, disruption, or security event occurs.

Because in an industry where every trip involves risks, protection has ceased to be merely a safety measure and has become a strategic factor in the operation, Useche emphasized.

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The challenges in trucking security no longer revolve around whether a robbery will occur, but rather how prepared the sector is to confront it. In Mexico, this crime occurs with a frequency that is no longer exceptional: according to specialists, a highway robbery against truckers is recorded every 30 minutes , reflecting an environment where operations are carried out under constant risk .

The problem persists and evolves. Criminal gangs operate with greater organization , change routes , use signal jammers, and adjust their tactics in response to police operations , forcing companies to rethink their security strategy practically in real time, Ángeles Useche, commercial director of Total Protect , told T21 .

But the biggest obstacle isn’t always external. It’s also internal. Despite this scenario, a portion of the sector continues to operate with traditional methods : calls to the operator, Excel spreadsheets, or reactive decision-making. Resistance to adopting technology remains one of the main hurdles, even though more accessible models exist today, the specialist explained.

The change, in reality, is one of mindset. Safety has ceased to be an expense and has become a condition of operation .

From the technological front, the evolution points to building layers. GPS alone is no longer enough. The approach now integrates video surveillance, engine immobilizers, sensors, and predictive analytics to anticipate risks, said Useche. That’s the turning point: moving from reacting to predicting.

In practice, the numbers illustrate the scale of the challenge. Among the company’s clients, four to five cargo thefts are recorded weekly . However, when technology and monitoring are integrated, recovery rates can exceed 97% , a difference that lies not in the event itself, but in the response capacity, he indicated.

The window of opportunity is in the first few minutes. According to Useche, the use of platforms with predictive intelligence is starting to make a difference. Identifying schedules, routes, and risk patterns allows for decisions to be made before the incident occurs, not after.

This is complemented by coordination with authorities and monitoring centers such as C4 and C5, as well as specialized response teams, which increase the chances of recovery and reduce the operational impact.

In a context where crime does not stop, security is no longer an add-on, it is part of the business.

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