32
REGIONAL REPORT
MEXICO
ACT
NOVEMBER2014
economy stillmovesupanddown,
nearly in stepwith theU.S. economy. STI
experienced some “extremelyhard times,”
according toDuque, becauseof the2009
U.S. recession.During thepast fiveyears,
STI’smost successfulmonths came earlier
this year.
Keep on trucking
“Wewere verybusy in the summer,”he
said. “I thinkwewill staybusybecause
most of theworkwe’vebeendoinghas
beenon a contract basis.Weweren’t doing
one-and-donehauls.We’reprepared for
growth.Wehave 70 trucks inMexico and
35 in theU.S.Wehave a varietyof about
350 trailers.”
STI is alsopositionedwell
geographicallywith sixother terminals
inMexicoplus facilities inDallas and
Detroit.
“We’vebeen able tobuildour business
inMexico and theU.S.with flatbed,
heavyhaul anddryvan services,”Duque
said. “We’ve alsodeveloped apresence in
Canada,whichhelps in shippingdoor to
door.Oneof our advantages is thatwe
can load something inMexico and take it
anywhere in theU.S. orCanada, or haul
it from theU.S. orCanada toMexico.
While someof our drivers onlyoperate in
Mexico,wehaveother drivers qualified to
drive in all three countries.”
Withother energy companies
empowered to competewithPemex,
Duque also sees emergingopportunities
for STIwithoil andgas customers.
Other considerations aside, succeeding
under adifferent tax structuremight be
the greatest factor in2015 success.At
GruasABC andTradelossa, leaders have
already shaped their attitudes toward the
new environment.
“The tax changes aremore than a
barrier,” saidCortezofGruasABC.
“They’re also a challenge for us tomeet.”
Similarwords come from theTradelossa
management team.
“Those tax increaseswerenot good
news. Inheavyhaul,wewereused to
favorable tax situations. That changed
last January1,” said a spokesman for
Tradelossa. “But you can’t treat the
increasesnegatively like somebody
decided, ‘We aremaking these tax
changes sowe can torment youguys.’Our
company is responding likewehave a
business to run.Wehave to continue.We
have tomove forward.”
■
Many believe the opening ofMexico’s energy industrywill spark economic growth.
