Growing Logistics Operations in Central Mexico
The central region of the country is solidifying its crucial role in national logistics with distribution centers anticipating annual growth of up to 8% in operations. Tultitlan, Edomex, is one such hub with Onest Smart Logistics projecting a 3-8% increase in sales, according to Miguel Vargas, the company’s operations director.
Onest Smart Logistics operates over 35 Centros de Distribución (Cedis) across Mexico, with six located in the State of Mexico. The Tultitlan Macro II facility employs 500 workers out of a national workforce of 4,500 and spans 600,000 square meters of warehouse space.
According to recent data from the local Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico (Sedeco), the State of Mexico hosts 389 Cedis, accounting for 13% of the nation’s total and employing approximately 660,000 people.
Economic Dynamism and Logistics Growth
Vargas described the consistent growth of distribution centers in the State of Mexico as a “reliable barometer” of regional economic dynamism. These platforms directly respond to the demands of industries such as retail, mass consumption, and manufacturing, each experiencing growth in sales that requires more storage space on pallets and racks.
Onest Smart Logistics serves prominent clients like Unilever, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Inditex group (Zara, Bershka, Massimo Dutti), Suburbia, and Royal Canin. Each brand requires specific handling and storage protocols based on their products.
Security Challenges on Mexican Roads
With a private transportation fleet reaching a record 133,000 units by April 2025, according to the Secretaría de Infraestructura, Comunicaciones y Transporte (SICT), Onest resumed transportation services, complementing its storage offerings.
However, the State of Mexico has been identified by Onest as having the highest delinquency rate on roads, particularly along the Circuito Exterior Mexiquense and the México-Querétaro corridor, with critical segments between kilometers 65 and 89.
Celaya, Guanajuato, and the Guadalajara metropolitan area are also considered high-risk regions where criminal activity has altered its methods, from threats to immediate gunfire. These vital routes for industrial and commercial supply require reinforced security schemes, such as armed convoys and satellite technology.
Addressing Security Concerns
José Antonio García, director of transportation, explained that the sector privately invests in security enhancements due to overwhelmed national and local law enforcement. These measures include intelligent sensors that immobilize engines and fuel, CCTV cameras in cabins and trailers, jammer detectors, and real-time monitoring systems with AI for predictive routing.
These solutions have increased security costs by 35-40%, resulting in a reduced accident index of 0.003, a 95.5% recovery rate for stolen units, and shorter response times of under 45 minutes.
Transportation Shortage and Road Insecurity
With 60% of domestic freight moved by federal self-transport, the sector faces an estimated shortage of 35,000 to 40,000 transport operators nationwide. This shortage is exacerbated by road insecurity, driving up operational costs and complexity.
