MOTOR CARRIAGE



OVERVIEW

 Mexico is highly and increasingly dependent upon trucking. Approximately 85 percent

of non-maritime the ton miles generated in Mexico are by truck (Castillo) (Figure 6). This

compares with only 26 percent in the United States (Motor Vehicle Manufacturers' Association).

As is evident from Figure 6, this disparity is due, in part, to the existence of significant inland

waterway and pipeline movements in the United States, but not in Mexico. Still, in the United

States for every ton-mile generated by intercity trucking, the railroads generate nearly 1.5 ton-

miles. While in Mexico, for every ton-mile generated by intercity trucking, less than one fifth

of a ton-mile is generated by the railroad. The rapid growth of dependence upon trucking is

demonstrated in Figure 7. Since 1980 the Gross Domestic Product has grown, in real terms,

by about 50 percent, while over the same period ton/kilometers of truck freight rose by over 150

percent.

 As in the United States, railroads tend to specialize in haulage of lower valued

commodities; such as coal, metals, and grains; and trucks are most important with regard to

higher valued goods. It is not surprising, therefore, that trucking is even more important in

perishables haulage than the overall averages indicate. For example, in the United States

approximately 90 percent of interstate produce movements are by truck. In Mexico, nearly 100

percent of overland perishables movements are by truck. Indeed, perishables movements by rail

in Mexico are essentially non-existent.

 In recent years, several U.S. carriers have initiated cooperative agreements with Mexican