SAN JUAN DEL RÍO, QRO.- Rest has stopped being a luxury and has become a safety factor, as Raúl Monroy, general director of Transportes Monroy Schiavon (TMS) , made clear , acknowledging that the origin of many of the industry’s problems lies in the lack of rest for operators.
Being sleepy or sleeping inadequately , he warned, not only deteriorates health, it also opens the door to harmful practices such as substance use to stay awake.
“We have a sick industry, unfortunately,” said Monroy during the 9th National Road Safety Congress , organized by the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) .
He explained that, to avoid situations resulting from operator sleep deprivation , TMS has restricted unnecessary nighttime trips by more than 85%, in addition to relying on technology to stop operators in time and give them a chance to sleep.
The magnitude of the problem became evident when recalling that in 2024, 374,949 traffic accidents were recorded in urban and suburban areas, with a balance of 4,666 fatalities and 85,985 injured people, according to data presented by Marcelo Casillas, moderator of the panel and representative of La Corona Soap Factory .
He said that more than 70% of these accidents are directly linked to the operator’s condition, primarily due to fatigue.
Regarding the medical perspective on this issue, Lizbeth Garduño Estrada, Primary Distribution Health and Wellness Coordinator at Coca-Cola FEMSA , noted that the circadian cycle (a natural process that influences sleep) should be the basis for any travel planning.
Based on his experience, he emphasized that interrupting nighttime rest has immediate effects on operators’ alertness and reaction time. To prevent risks, Coca-Cola FEMSA implements cognitive fatigue tests (PBT), similar to those used on Formula 1 drivers, capable of measuring reaction times and determining whether an operator is fit to operate.
With these protocols, the company estimates a 25% to 35% reduction in workplace and road accidents. “Today we monitor the truck with GPS, but what about the person?” he asked.
Technology was the central theme of Claudia Sánchez, Account Executive at Samsara , who emphasized that her role is not just to monitor, but to support. “Operators are heroes without capes who risk their lives every day to keep us on the table,” she stated.
From this perspective, Samsara seeks to provide real-time visibility into what’s happening behind the wheel: driving time, signs of fatigue, lane departures, or alerts that enable immediate decision-making.
The goal, he explained, is to reduce the administrative burden, structure more effective training, and, above all, ensure operators feel supported by tools that protect their safety and that of their families.
The debate made it clear that Standard 087 (NOM-087-SCT-2-2017, which regulates the hours of service and rest for federal truck drivers in Mexico) is just the starting point.
Raúl Monroy acknowledged that compliance also depends on customers and merchandise owners, who must respect loading and unloading schedules so as not to put undue pressure on operators.
“This isn’t just an industrial issue; it’s a social issue. The more operators are aware of road safety, the safer our families’ transportation will be,” he emphasized.
For her part, Lizbeth Garduño stated that self-care and medical empathy are key to breaking the monotony and detecting problems early, from addictions to chronic conditions.
“If an operator has a financial or family problem behind the wheel, it also affects their performance,” he noted.
Claudia Sánchez emphasized that technology can be the bridge that connects all actors in the chain—doctors, businesses, and transporters—to design safe travel plans , reduce risks, and improve the quality of life for those who travel the country’s roads.
The panel concluded with a consensus: integrating health, transportation, and technology is not optional; it’s the only way for operators to operate safely, and for compliance with operating hours to translate into fewer accidents and more safe lives on the road.
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