Intermodal transport, which uses multiple modes like rail, road, and maritime under a single cargo unit, could be a viable strategy to rebalance the system.

Mexico’s freight and logistics sector is under growing pressure to modernize, as it grapples with infrastructure strain, rising costs, and the environmental impact of road-heavy cargo transportation. Intermodal transport, which uses multiple modes like rail, road, and maritime under a single cargo unit, could be a viable strategy to rebalance the system.



While still representing a small portion of total freight movement in the country, intermodal transport is drawing increased attention from both private operators and public planners thanks to its potential to reduce costs, improve security, and lower carbon emissions.



“There is a clear opportunity for intermodal growth, as many goods currently moved by truck could shift to rail,” says Paul Hirsch, AVP Mexico Business Unit, BNSF Railway, to MBN.



A Heavily Skewed System



Mexico’s freight transport remains dominated by trucks. According to CANACAR, road transport handled 57% of domestic cargo in 2023, while rail accounted for just 13.25%. This imbalance creates inefficiencies in long-haul shipments and raises concerns about long-term sustainability, argues a research paper from the Mexican Institute of Transportation (IMT).



“We have had a heavily unbalanced system for decades. This not only raises logistics costs but limits Mexico’s competitiveness in the long term,” says Francisco Fabila, Director, Ferrovalle, and President, Mexican Railway Association (AMF), to MBN.



Intermodality as a Counterbalance



Intermodal transport allows cargo to move across multiple modes, typically rail and truck, within the same sealed container. This minimizes handling, reduces risk of theft, and improves tracking. Most importantly, it makes use of the rail network for long-haul segments, relieving highways of heavy freight traffic.



According to Regulatory Agency for Rail Transport’s (ARTF), in March 2025 alone, rail concessions in Mexico transported 81,598 containers, representing over 0.82 million t. Two operators, Ferromex (FXE) and Kansas City Southern de México (KCSM), accounted for nearly 97% of intermodal container movement.



Intermodality can be a bridge between rail and businesses that have traditionally relied solely on trucks. “Many companies do not know how to access rail, but intermodal terminals offer them a starting point,” Fabila tells MBN.



Ferrovalle itself handled 550,000 TEUs in 2024 and now operates what it says is the largest inland intermodal terminal in Latin America. One of its busiest corridors, Mexico City to Mexicali, has shifted from truck-dominated to rail-integrated, with consistent double-digit growth over seven years.



Operational and Environmental Benefits



Data from the Ministry of Energy (SENER) shows that truck driving accounted for over 90% of fuel consumption in the transportation sector in 2023, while rail used just 1.02%. In terms of energy consumption, the transportation sector accounted for 48.80% of the total petajoules nationwide, while rail transport represented only 0.5%.



The appeal of intermodal transport lies in its ability to combine the flexibility of trucks with the efficiency of trains. “Intermodal transport can reduce logistics costs by up to 70%, depending on planning and route. It also lowers the need for in-house trucking fleets and offers more scalable options,” says Fabila.



Diego Anchustegui, Commercial Director, Transportes EASO, highlights four major benefits of using intermodal transport for cargo owners: it is more cost-effective depending on the route and distance; it is up to 75% more environmentally friendly compared to conventional trucking; offers greater capacity, especially crucial given the shortage of 56,000 truck drivers, which is projected to nearly double to 106,000 by 2028; and provides significantly higher security, with theft rates as low as 0.5% on certain routes.



Railway investments are also private, meaning less public spending on highways and roads. Intermodal transport also reduces highway congestion by removing trucks from the roads, which decreases accidents and fatalities, says Anchustegui. Increasing intermodal usage can also dramatically lower logistics costs, which in turn helps reduce inflation, he adds.