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Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, By Charles E Wilson

GTM continued...

The acquisitions and startups enabled GTM to build a broad portfolio of trucking services as Mexico's economy grew and diversified over the past couple of decades. Liquid and dry bulk products account for about 40% of the cargo transported by the GTM carriers, and much of that is moving internationally.

“The size and diversity of GTM has become a very real benefit,” Bernal says. “The range of trucking operations gives us the ability to cover many different markets. It makes us a very strong competitor in the Mexico market.”

Mujica adds: “Over the past year — during one of the most difficult markets we've faced — specialized cargoes did better than dry freight. Plastic pellet volumes stayed about the same in 2009 as in 2008. Chemical shipments were reasonably good for us.”

About a third of the GTM tank truck activity is international, and much of it can be attributed to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). “NAFTA has been a big success for us,” Bernal says. “Import/export activity is a big part of our business today.”

Interline partnerships

GTM trucking operations have been very successful at building interline partnerships with US carriers. “We're happy with the interline partnerships,” Mujica says. “We know the Mexico market, and our US partners know the market in the United States. We're all focusing on what we do best.”

Key chemical hauling partnerships at Transportes Jorge Ancer were forged with Transport Service Co, Slay Transportation Co Inc, and Trimac Transportation. Transportes Lopez e Hijos works with Oakley Transport Inc (foodgrade liquids) and Union Pacific Railroad (rail movements of Bulktainer tank containers).

Transportes Lopez e Hijos built a strong partnership with Bulkmatic Transport Company as the primary Mexican carrier serving Bulkmatic de Mexico's eight transload facilities. The partnership started in 1996
when Bulkmatic launched its Mexico transload operation. Plastic pellets shipped by rail from the United States are the primary cargo handled at the Bulkmatic transload locations.

“We began working with Bulkmatic when they launched their operation in Mexico, and we built a very good relationship with them,” Mujica says. “We see plenty of growth potential for the future as the US and Mexico economies recover.”

Transportes Lopez e Hijos and Transportes Jorge Ancer also have benefitted from growth in liquid and dry bulk shipments to and from the Tampico, Tamaulipas and Vera Cruz, Vera Cruz. Other GTM carriers serve the ports of Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan and Manzanillo, Colima.

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