Update: About 90 trucks joined Monday’s Tijuana caravan; Canacar’s national strike continues Tuesday

About 90 tractor-trailers took part in Monday’s truckers’ caravan through Tijuana, according to municipal police figures cited by Zeta. The convoy, made up of four groups (Canacar, Indeco, Hamotac and Fematrac), set off around 10:15 a.m. from Calle Sebastián Vizcaíno and Avenida Internacional, went through Colonia Libertad into Zona Río, passed City Hall and continued along Paseo de los Héroes and the Vía Rápida toward the Central Camionera bus station, Zeta reported. El Congresista, citing Diario Tijuana, estimated 80 to 100 trucks. None of the reports we read described border closures or major traffic problems caused by the caravan.

Alfonso Millán, Canacar’s delegate for Tijuana, Tecate and Rosarito, said the protest, held at the same time across the country, kicked off an indefinite national strike, Zeta reported. The carriers’ demands include highway security, better roads and changes to the 2027 federal tax package, according to Zeta; Lizeth Pérez de la Torre of the carrier L&G Translog said tolls will no longer be fully deductible and a higher IEPS tax would push up diesel costs. Locally, Millán cited complaints about illegal towing by the city’s tow trucks, said work is under way on an update to the traffic regulations and pointed to slow crossings for empty trucks at Tijuana’s customs, while calling the new route to Otay I through the Otay II infrastructure a positive step (our story). Tijuana Última Hora reported customs lines of three to four hours and complaints about towing and tow-truck fees.

In Mexico City, President Claudia Sheinbaum played down the protests, describing the strikers as “a small sector of Canacar,” and Finance Secretary Édgar Amador said 94% of trucking companies will keep the toll benefit, Zeta reported. On Monday night, Canacar’s national president, Augusto Ramos Melo, called on drivers to resume protests at 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to SDP Noticias, and El Informador reported that the first working session with the Finance Ministry, set up through the Interior Ministry (Segob), was scheduled for Tuesday.

If you’re driving or crossing

• The Tijuana reports we read on Tuesday morning didn’t mention plans for a second local caravan. We’ll update this story if carriers here announce new actions.
• Monday’s convoy used Avenida Internacional, Paseo de los Héroes and the Vía Rápida; if another one is called, expect slow traffic along those roads.
• Background on the strike and Monday’s route is in our earlier story.