During the institutional meeting of Transportation Authorities , held in the Senate of the Republic , legislators and representatives of the sector agreed that freight transport faces structural challenges that must be addressed in light of the review of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) , as it is a key component for the competitiveness and productive integration of North America.
The forum was attended by Ignacio Mier Velazco, president of the Political Coordination Board (Jucopo) of the Senate; Emmanuel Reyes Carmona, president of the Economy Commission; as well as senators, actors from the public and business sectors of motor transport, and representatives of the National Chamber of Freight Transport (Canacar) .
The economic weight of the sector was one of the central themes of the dialogue. According to experts, trucking moves more than 80% of Mexican exports to the United States and accounts for between 86% and 87% of bilateral trade with that country, making it the main channel for productive integration in North America, according to Virginia Olalde López Gavito, president of the Transportation Commission of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) .
He pointed out that any bottleneck at border crossings, infrastructure or regulation directly impacts regional competitiveness, so the review of the USMCA should prioritize operational efficiency, regulatory harmonization and strategic investments.
Internally, the freight transport sector comprises more than 200,000 companies in the country, contributes around 3.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) , generates more than two million direct jobs and more than six million indirect jobs, and has an impact on 101 industrial sectors, according to Augusto Ramos, member and candidate for the presidency of Canacar.
Likewise, transportation as a whole (which includes freight and passenger road transport activities, rail, maritime, air transport and related logistics services) represents about 9.9% of the national GDP, as highlighted by Julio César Sánchez, representative of the Ministry of Economy (SE) .
At the border level, the operational dimension of trade was exposed: in 2025 alone, more than 760,000 truck crossings were recorded in the Ciudad Juárez–El Paso corridor , while in the total of the northern border, more than 7.5 million crossings were counted , reflecting the intensity of the logistical flow and the pressure on the infrastructure.
Senators and trucking authorities indicated that these volumes highlight the need to strengthen border crossings, modernize customs, and reduce inspection times, as any bottleneck directly impacts costs, delivery times, and regional competitiveness.
From a business perspective, the focus was on fleet modernization, highlighting that vehicle renewal can reduce emissions by up to 80% , in addition to improving operational efficiency. In this context, the development of 50 secure rest stops along strategic routes was mentioned as part of efforts to strengthen operator safety.
Senator Karina Ruiz acknowledged that the sector faces a complex environment marked by economic stagnation and pressures stemming from international tariffs.
He raised the need to build a joint agenda that includes incentives for vehicle renewal, strengthening of logistics infrastructure , operator training programs, and greater institutional coordination to address road safety issues.
Participants agreed that the review of the USMCA should be seen as an opportunity to consolidate Mexico as a regional logistics hub , advance regulatory harmonization, strengthen road safety, and invest in technology for roads and customs, in an environment where road transport not only moves goods but also sustains employment, investment, and the country’s industrial dynamism.
Comment and follow us on LinkedIn: @Karina Quintero / @GrupoT21
