墨西哥卡车司机暂停全国罢工，要求整治公路犯罪

While Mexican truckers have suspended a nationwide strike that disrupted highways across 19 states, industry leaders warned that demonstrations could resume if federal and state authorities fail to address grievances that include cargo theft and violence against drivers.

The suspension follows negotiations between Mexico’s Interior Ministry (Segob) and four trucking organizations — the National Chamber of Freight Transport (CANACAR), the Honorable Mexican Alliance of Transport Organizations (HAMOTAC), the Mexican-American Federation of Transporters (FEMATRAC) and the Organization for the Integration of Conventional Rights (INDECO).

The groups agreed to establish negotiations with multiple government agencies covering highway security, infrastructure, taxation, labor regulations and social security.

However, trucking leaders emphasized that the agreement represents a temporary suspension of protests rather than a resolution of the industry’s demands.

The demonstrations began Monday when truckers staged protests and highway blockades over cargo theft, extortion, violence against drivers and rising operating costs.

Mexico’s Interior Ministry reported demonstrations at 38 locations across 19 states, involving 691 vehicles and 858 participants. CANACAR disputed the government’s assessment, saying the protest movement extended across all 32 Mexican states.

Trucking leaders demand concrete solutions

At a Tuesday news conference following negotiations with federal officials, Carlos García Álvarez, national president of HAMOTAC, thanked truckers who participated in the demonstrations and credited their efforts with bringing government officials to the negotiating table.

The trucking organizations outlined agreements to establish working sessions with federal agencies responsible for public safety, transportation infrastructure, taxation and labor regulations.

Lauro Rincón Hernández, president of FEMATRAC, said highway security remains among the industry’s most pressing concerns.

“We cannot continue to endure more highway robberies, more loss of property, more truck drivers murdered,” Rincón Hernández said, according to Mexican transportation publication T21.

The organizations are demanding stronger measures to prevent highway robberies, extortion and violence against commercial truck drivers.

According to various media reports here and here, CANACAR representatives said 15 truck drivers have been killed in Mexico this year, including three in Veracruz and two in San Luis Potosí.

Trucking representatives also expressed concerns that drivers and fleet owners are reluctant to report crimes because they fear retaliation from criminal organizations.

The industry has complained about difficulties recovering stolen commercial vehicles, even after authorities locate them.

García Álvarez told Mexican journalist Azucena Uresti that the demonstrations were suspended following months of discussions with federal officials, but highway insecurity remains unresolved.

“It seems like a crime to be a transport worker,” García Álvarez said.

Government agrees to four areas of negotiations

During the Tuesday news conference, the leaders of HAMOTAC, FEMATRAC, INDECO and CANACAR outlined four major areas of negotiations with federal officials.

The negotiations involve fiscal policies and fleet modernization about tax incentives, financing and measures to help carriers replace aging commercial vehicles; highway security, highway infrastructure, and labor regulations and social security.

Augusto Ramos Melo, president of CANACAR, said the trucking industry is seeking simplified social security requirements and more affordable options for small carriers and independent operators.

Ramos Melo said the discussions would also address proposed reductions in the workweek and how working hours and overtime should be calculated for truck drivers.

The CANACAR president emphasized that the industry is dominated by small businesses, making regulatory costs and administrative requirements particularly important.

He said the organizations would seek agreements with defined timelines rather than open-ended discussions.

Protests could resume if agreements fall short

Despite the suspension, trucking organizations have not ruled out renewed highway demonstrations.

Irma Serrano, FEMATRAC’s representative in Guanajuato, told Mexican news outlet La Silla Rota that national leaders had informed regional representatives about the agreements reached with federal officials.

Serrano said the suspension is temporary and depends on whether authorities establish specific commitments and deadlines to resolve the industry’s concerns.

No date has been announced for additional demonstrations.

Why it matters: Persistent cargo theft, extortion and attacks on truck drivers threaten Mexico’s transportation industry and the reliability of North American supply chains.

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