The rising levels of cargo truck hijacking and the broader problem of organized crime-related violence are issues that affect major companies in Mexico. Ford had a truckload of vehicles stolen by hijackers. Chinese drone-maker DJI was targeted in a hijacking attack. Danone also had a truckload of water stolen by hijackers., Pepsi and Coca-Cola have written off stolen truckloads of merchandise in Mexico for years.
The risk of cargo hijacking is particularly acute in central Mexico. Mexico State, which surrounds Mexico City, recorded 3,980 truck hijackings in 2022, accounting for over half of the country’s official total tally of cargo truck robberies for the year. On March 8, hijackers kidnapped a driver and stole his vehicle on a highway in Mexico State.
As companies continue to diversify their supply chains away from China, Mexico has a chance to further consolidate its position as the No. 1 industrial manufacturing export hub in Latin America. Companies can take steps to mitigate the risk from organized crime such as buying insurance for their shipments within Mexico, prioritizing routes on toll roads, vetting their logistics partners, using tracking devices on trucks and trailers, and working with local trucking companies to better fly under the radar.