MEXICO'S trucking industry experienced a significant growth spurt over the past three years, due in part to an expanding domestic market and trade increases linked to the North American Free Trade Agreement. Not surprisingly, fleet executives were in a buoyant mood during the 2004 Expo Transporte ANPACT truck show in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
The number of trucking companies in Mexico has grown by 6.5% over the past three years to a total of 10,500, according to statistics from various Mexican government sources including the Secretariat de Comunicaciones y Transporte (SCT). Carriers hauled approximately 426 million tonnes (469.5 million tons) of cargo in 2004.
Small and medium fleets predominate in Mexico, with the largest fleets (100 trucks or more) accounting for just 11% of the total. These carriers run a combined fleet of 185,534 trucks. In addition, at least 88,296 owner-drivers (each with one to five trucks) are in the business, and they operate 230,313 trucks.