Cargo theft in the transportation industry is a long-standing, but rapidly growing issue. One of the most frequent occurrences of cargo theft is during the trade between the U.S. and Mexico. Statistics show up to 49 truckers are assaulted in some fashion in Mexico each day. Other harrowing data shows that at least 50 drivers were killed in 2023 alone.
Starting on February 5, 2024, thousands of drivers from 15 of the largest carrier organizations set out on strike. The goal of the organizers was to seek more patrols from Mexico’s National Guard on roads with a high incidence of theft, more stringent penalties against cargo thieves, and increased support for the families of truckers affected. They ultimately sought to secure common roads and travel for all law-abiding parties, while cracking down on illegal activity.
Another strike penned for August by truck drivers belonging to the Mexican Alliance of Carrier Organizations (Asociación Mexicana de Organizaciones de Transportistas A.C. – AMOTAC) and others was postponed through promises the federal authorities made to increase roadway security measures. This included agreements reached by AMOTAC and authorities, including Mexico’s National Guard, to hold monthly meetings with trucking officials to create enhanced safety measures to combat cargo theft.
However, despite the effort, crime continues to rise. Cargo theft cases increased 4% year over year in 2023 to 9,181 incidents, including 7,862 cases that involved violence. Members of AMOTAC and other trucking organizations held demonstrations on the Mexico-Queretaro federal highway (one of the largest U.S.-Mexico highways for commercial transport) to protest road insecurities.
With tech developments and the continued pressure from multiple parties to secure transit between the U.S. and Mexico, we all hope to see progress and attempts to reduce crime, keep our drivers safe, and get product from point A to point B.