AMOTAC Announces Nationwide Strike on Feb. 15

Members of the Mexican Alliance of Carrier Organizations (AMOTAC) will stage a nationwide strike on Feb. 15 at 8:00 AM, with plans to disrupt major federal highways nationwide. The protest aims to draw attention to the alarming increase in transportation robberies. 

In an interview with MBN, Julieta Tolentino, National Coordinator of Delegates, AMOTAC, confirmed the national strike. Tolentino disclosed that AMOTAC has 270 delegations nationwide and is recognized by the Minister of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) as the largest transport organization. AMOTAC’s members hold 83% of the national transport vehicle fleet.

The Mexican Federation of Transportation and Freight Transport (FEMATRAC) will also go on strike on Feb. 5 to protest insecurity in highways, but the two strikes are independent, says Lauro Rincón Hernández, President, FEMATRAC, to MBN. This was confirmed by Tolentino.

On Aug. 28, 2023, AMOTAC representatives had agreed with authorities to establish monthly meetings to address safety concerns on the country's highways. This agreement helped to avoid a two-day strike on Aug. 29-30, 2023. However, Tolentino explains that the absence of actions to enhance road security and ensure operator safety remains a significant concern. Tolentino points out that decision makers are sometimes absent from these meetings, hindering progress.

As previously reported by MBN, cargo theft keeps rising. SESNSP’s Common Jurisdiction Crime Incidence Index reports that violent robberies increased by 2.82% in 2023, and 85.6% of all robberies involve violence.

According to Tolentino, truck drivers face numerous challenges, including the absence of a standardized tariff system, insufficient rest areas, and a lack of secure stopping points. Despite regulations imposed by authorities, the lack of support and facilities to comply with these regulations exacerbates the difficulties faced by transporters.

AMOTAC argues that the National Guard, tasked with ensuring road safety, is inadequately organized and not specifically trained to address transportation-related issues. This alleged disorganization renders the National Guard's support ineffective in ensuring the safety of Mexico's highways, says AMOTAC.

Tolentino highlights other logistical challenges such as the unavailability of medical examination appointments and system failures during the application process. These challenges undermine the stringent licensing requirements for transport operators. The administrative disarray within SICT and the National Guard contributes to the dissatisfaction among transport operators, says AMOTAC.

The association also argues that municipalities are allegedly misusing mobility laws and exploiting ambiguity in the legislation to charge fees for unloading or loading in their jurisdictions. AMOTAC adds that such practices contradict the actual provisions of mobility laws.

"Unfortunately, it is a wave of violence, a wave of robberies, and they have become more violent. We have no results, and the truth is that our results are insufficient to address the issues and the phenomenon we are currently experiencing," said Miguel Ángel Santiago, National Coordinator, AMOTAC, in an interview with MVS.

The strike, scheduled for Feb. 15, is expected to primarily affect highways connecting the State of Mexico with Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Morelos, and Guerrero. Members of AMOTAC from across the country are expected to join the demonstration, amplifying their collective voice against the perceived injustices and inadequacies within the transportation industry.