Terrorism (C-TPAT) because U.S. Customs
is unlikely to open their trailers for inspection—and are threatening employees with
death if they refuse to cooperate. In late
January, the newspaper Reforma created a
stir in Mexico when it reported that drug
cartels control the major rail lines serving
the United States. The newspaper said it had
proof that railroad personnel at all levels
and at nearly every station are colluding
with the traffickers. The Mexican Railroad
Association denied those charges, asserting
that rail is the safest method of freight
transportation in Mexico.
To combat cargo theft, many companies
are turning to technology. Vehicle-tracking
and container-monitoring systems are
widespread, and some high-tech warehouses have sophisticated access controls,
including fingerprint matching.
There are a number of cargo security and
tracking systems on the market and in
development. Aduana is planning to test
one from Powers International, a company
headed by Dr. Jim Giermanski, a professor
of international business at Belmont Abbey
College in North Carolina and an expert on
trade with Mexico. Like other tracking systems, Powers’ technology transmits alerts
when a trailer or container door has been
opened. It also “notices” if an intruder cuts
a hole elsewhere in the equipment, and it
can detect changes in light, temperature,
and vibration.
Here’s what makes this system interesting
to Mexican Customs: It also tracks the
chain of custody, controlling access and
recording the container’s contents at both
origin and destination. At the point of origin, an authorized person enters data about
the trailer’s contents into a computer and
uses an electronic “key” (similar to a swipe
card) to arm and secure the lock. “The person who locks it has to be a vetted person
who has a unique code number, so we
know his identity,” Giermanski explains.
The system sends the handler’s ID and
detailed shipment data via satellite to a data
center, which communicates the information to the shipper’s logistics software and
to customs authorities. En route, the container “reports” variations from its planned
route and any other changes to a network
of data centers. At the destination, an
authorized person with a unique identifier
opens the container with an electronic key and verifies that the contents match the original shipment.
expansion of events like the annual
Expologística trade show, which
typically draws more than 300
exhibitors of material handling
Upbeat but realistic equipment and supply chain tech-
The outlook for transportation, nology and services, testifies to the
logistics, and trade in Mexico is pos- demand for logistics tools and
itive and encouraging. Certainly information.
problems persist, but Mexico will Like many of his countrymen,
likely continue to make progress in Sevilla-Sacasa offers an upbeat view
its drive to reach logistics parity of Mexico’s future that is at the
with the United States and Canada. same time, tempered with a dose of
The growing cadre of Mexican realism. “I think that Mexico has a
logistics and supply chain profes- lot of challenges, yet a lot of very
sionals will see to that. The number positive things are happening,” he
of courses in the discipline at says. “We all have to deal with diffi-Mexican universities is growing, as cult issues like drugs and crime—
is membership in professional we can’t be blind to them. But the
organizations. The Council of fact of the matter is that goods con-Supply Chain Management tinue to move and to reach the
Professionals, for example, now has Mexican marketplace. Mexico is
two roundtables in Mexico, and becoming a very competitive place
APICS—The Association for … and we are pretty confident the
Operations Management has nine changes we are making will mean
chapters in the country. The rapid continuing improvement.”
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