When work decreases, investment decisions also become tighter; for owner-operators and small businesses , adding another unit to the fleet means allocating resources that need to be returned to the operation in the form of kilometers and income, so a lower level of activity also ends up curbing the purchase of vehicles.

This reality now affects both the new and used truck markets. Arturo Gómez, director of SARMW —a firm specializing in leasing, sales, and maintenance services for the transportation industry—explained that the decrease in activity among some of its clients has restricted purchases, particularly among owner-operators and small businesses, the company’s main target segments.

The segment in question has a significant weight within the sector. As of June 2026, micro-enterprises with between one and five units represented 79.8% of federal freight transport companies , totaling 182,347 companies and 341,155 vehicles, according to data from the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) .

According to Gómez, part of the pressure this market faces is related to the dynamics of these carriers themselves, whose business may depend on supplemental work from larger companies. When that volume decreases, the possibility of adding another vehicle is also restricted.

He commented that they are looking to join the operation without the buyer having to allocate additional resources immediately.

Logic becomes relevant in a segment particularly sensitive to working capital. Arturo Gómez explained that most of these units are acquired through financing , so buying a vehicle that then remains out of service due to a breakdown can become an additional burden for the carrier.

“If you deliver a unit of very good quality, in very good condition, even though it is a second-hand unit, you guarantee that it will not lose capital and will start generating profits. So, that’s what we’re betting on,” he said.

Although cost remains a determining factor when buying a used car, for Gómez the decision now involves more elements: quality, support, warranty, financing and, particularly, that the chosen vehicle corresponds to the operation that will be carried out.

“Price is important, but if you offer a quality product, provide financial support, and can also advise the customer on choosing the right unit for their application, you definitely have a winning offer,” he stated.

Purchasing behavior also has its own timeline. Among owner-operators and small businesses served by SARMW, acquiring a second unit can take more than six months , while the carrier raises the necessary capital again.

This is where after-sales support becomes crucial for the company. Gómez stated that most of their customers return and explained that during this period they strive to maintain support so that, when the buyer has the capacity to purchase another vehicle, they will return to the company.

But behind the second-hand market there is also another need: to replace vehicles that have been in operation for years when buying a new one remains out of reach for some transporters.

“It’s very difficult for a truck driver to acquire new equipment,” he acknowledged. Given this reality, SARMW aims to offer newer model year and refurbished units, as well as financing options that allow carriers to leverage their existing equipment and reduce the initial outlay.

The company’s offering primarily consists of tractor-trailer trucks from 2007 to 2019 or 2020 models , as well as dump trucks, short- and long-haul vehicles, and various sleeper configurations. It has also begun releasing trailers from its rental pool to complement its powertrain and trailer inventory.

SARMW has approximately 100 trucks in its inventory for sale , of which 25 to 30 have already been refurbished to the company’s standards . These units come primarily from the group’s own operations, in addition to acquired equipment that is subsequently refurbished before being returned to the market.

This year, the expectation is to move between 70 and 80 trucks , compared to an ideal scenario of between 120 and 150 units annually, Gómez commented.

The company is also looking to expand its reach beyond the northeast of the country, where a large portion of its customers are currently concentrated. Gómez noted that they operate a sales point in the Mexico City metropolitan area, have locations in Querétaro, recently opened a location in Chihuahua, and are looking to expand into the southeast of the country.

SARMW Truck Fest 2026, from pre-owned to business

Part of that commercial strategy took shape on August 13 during the SARMW Truck Fest 2026 , held in Allende, Nuevo León, a meeting designed to bring together in one space customers, suppliers and allies around the purchase of units and the solutions that accompany their operation.

Prior to the meeting, SARMW expected the attendance of more than 250 registered clients and planned to turn the activity into a transactional event, that is, that attendees would not only learn about the vehicles, but could also complete transactions during the day.

The offerings weren’t limited to trucks. Suppliers and partners participated with solutions, spare parts, and benefits for carriers, in addition to activities and raffles throughout the event. The Truck Fest itself featured pre-owned tractor-trailers, transportation equipment, promotions, consulting, and financing options.

SARMW also brought together its commercial, technical and operations teams, as well as financial support, during the event, with the intention that a customer could find a unit, review credit alternatives and move forward with the transaction all in one place.

And some units ended the day changing hands. Among the transactions carried out during Truck Fest were the delivery of units to  carriers from the region, as well as from Durango, Veracruz, the Bajío, central, and southeastern Mexico .

Thus, in a year where the market demands careful consideration of every investment decision, SARMW is betting that the used truck is not just the truck that someone else stopped using, but an asset that can return to the road, start producing, and become a renewal alternative for those who still find the possibility of owning a brand-new unit far off.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Karina Quintero  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo SARMW steps on the gas in a used car market with lower demand apareció primero en T21.

In an environment marked by global economic uncertainty, rising interest rates, and a national fleet with an average age of around 19 years, specialized financing has become a strategic tool to promote the modernization of Mexican road transport.

Manufacturer finance companies have ceased to be merely a credit provider and have become a business partner capable of understanding the operational needs of the sector and designing solutions tailored to each type of carrier, explained Rodrigo Clemente, general manager of Scania Finance Mexico , in an interview with T21.

“Customers use their bank lines of credit to meet operational needs, cash flow, or investments. That’s why, when it comes to acquiring transportation equipment, the manufacturer’s financing plays a fundamental role,” he said.

Unlike traditional banks, branded financial institutions understand the economic cycles of the sector , the seasonality of operations, and the specific characteristics of each customer segment, the executive explained.

It is precisely because of this close relationship that more flexible plans can be developed during periods of volatility, and companies can be supported when they face adverse market conditions. “We experience the same difficulties as our clients. When the sector is doing well, we are doing well; when it faces challenges, we understand them and seek solutions,” Rodrigo Clemente emphasized.

One of the challenges facing the industry, Clemente acknowledged, is to eliminate the perception that the financial area represents a barrier to closing deals.

In this area, Scania Finance is working on an internal transformation aimed at streamlining processes, strengthening digitalization, and offering a more efficient customer experience. The goal is to maintain effective risk management without hindering business opportunities.

“We make our living by approving deals, not rejecting them. If there’s financing, there are sales and growth for everyone,” the executive stated.

Pre-owned vehicles, a strategic priority

One of Scania’s most important announcements was its commitment to the used vehicle market, a segment that Clemente considers essential to sustaining the growth of new vehicle sales.

The finance company works together with Scania Mexico ‘s commercial area to develop specific products that facilitate the acquisition of used units, particularly for small transporters and independent operators looking to start or consolidate their business.

According to the executive, the firm’s knowledge of its clients allows for a more accurate evaluation of financing operations in this segment, which is traditionally more complex for conventional financial institutions.

“Pre-owned vehicles are a priority on our agenda. We want to offer competitive solutions and streamlined processes so that more owner-operators can formally and sustainably join the market,” he said.

Renewing the fleet, the big challenge

One of the main structural problems of Mexican road transport continues to be the high age of the vehicles.

While in other markets renewal occurs more rapidly, in Mexico the average age of the fleet is approaching 19 years, a situation that directly impacts operating costs, efficiency and equipment availability .

Many carriers still perceive renewal as an expense and not as an investment capable of reducing maintenance costs and improving productivity, Rodrigo Clemente inferred.

“We need to demonstrate with numbers that a new vehicle can be more profitable than continuing to allocate resources to units with high repair costs and long periods of downtime,” Clemente recommended.

This proposal is complemented by the comprehensive solution, in which the carrier can concentrate in a single monthly payment the financing of the unit, insurance, allied equipment and even maintenance services.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Didier Ramírez Torres / @GrupoT21

El cargo Scania Finance develops a proposal to boost renewal in the road transport sector apareció primero en T21.

The truck has reached the end of its lifespan, but it remains on the road . Not because there aren’t options to replace it, but because stopping it (even to replace it) poses a greater risk. 

In the trucking industry, taking a unit out of operation is not just a technical decision; it is a move that can affect the entire chain: revenue, customers, and continuity of service . 

That’s where renewal stops being a goal and becomes a calculation. 

For micro and small businesses , that calculation rarely adds up. It’s not a lack of intention, it’s a lack of margin. “It’s not that we don’t want to renew; we’d all like to bring in new units,” explains Wendy Cano, administrative and logistics manager of Transportes Calesa , a small family business. 

The problem, he adds, is sustaining it: paying for the operation today while the income continues to arrive late. 

Renew, yes, but not at any cost

While carriers immediately cover diesel , tolls , maintenance, and drivers , payments for their services can take up to 120 days to arrive. In that scenario, taking out a loan ceases to be a solution and becomes a risk. Added to this are the operational delays: “It’s not just about buying the truck,” warns Eduardo Mendoza, CEO of CM Logistics , pointing out that procedures such as permits, license plates, or registration can take up to four months. 

Access to financing is also a problem. For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), meeting credit requirements is simply not an option. 

The result is reflected in the fleet : with an average age of 20.38 years , the vehicle fleet of the motor transport sector in Mexico is not only aging, but doing so faster than it can be renewed. 

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Karina Quintero  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Renew or resist: the decision that holds back small transport operators apareció primero en T21.

JIUTEPEC, MOR.- The conversation about the future of trucking began with a call to accelerate modernization , strengthen sustainability, and maintain coordination between industry and government . This marked the opening of the 4th Sustainable Mobility and Technology Meeting, organized by the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) , a forum that aims to translate trends into concrete actions for the sector.

From the outset, the central message was that freight transport faces a transformational environment , where technology, the environment, and operational efficiency are no longer separate issues, but part of the same agenda.

The meeting, which has become established as a space for dialogue on public policies and technological advances , seeks to share best practices and open new training routes for companies in the sector.

In this context, Leonardo Gómez, executive president of the ANTP, highlighted that environmental protection has become an operational pillar of the trucking industry, which requires continuous improvement in how companies conduct their operations and adopt new technologies.

Sustainability , he explained, not only responds to a regulatory requirement, but also to the need to make logistics operations in the country more efficient and competitive, in an environment where challenges and opportunities are advancing simultaneously.

This approach was complemented by the authority’s perspective. Luis Ruiz Hernández, head of the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , put the sector’s role into perspective: “Motor transport covers an estimated 800 million kilometers daily along more than 50,000 kilometers of highways , moving essential goods for the economy and daily life,” he emphasized.

Under this scenario, he emphasized that the coordination between the ANTP and the SICT has allowed progress in key actions to address the operational challenges of the sector, from the digitization of procedures to regulatory strengthening.

Among the highlighted lines of work are the simplification of administrative processes, the modernization of service stations, the supervision of weights and dimensions , as well as the promotion of self-regulation through regulatory compliance certifications.

In his speech, he also highlighted the joint work on security and the implementation of programs such as the identification of units through the Public Vehicle Registry (Repuve), in addition to actions to strengthen technical supervision on the road.

One of the central points on the agenda was the renewal of the vehicle fleet. Ruiz Hernández commented on the fleet renewal program announced by the Ministry of Economy , and reiterated that the federal government has a guarantee fund exceeding 400 million pesos (MXN), with the capacity to leverage more than seven billion MXN in financing to modernize the fleet.

This program, which is in the guidelines phase, aims to promote more efficient units with lower emissions, he explained.

In addition, Ruiz recalled that the previous meeting had already identified priorities such as emissions reduction, intermodality, the circular economy and vehicle renewal , issues that are relevant again in this edition.

With this start, the meeting opens the way to an agenda that not only seeks to discuss trends, but to translate them into concrete actions for a sector that continues to be the main system of goods mobility in Mexico.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Karina Quintero /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Fleet renewal and collaboration are key to sustainable mobility apareció primero en T21.