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Trucking, buses and toll roads in Mexico

Last verified: 2026-10-26 · Status: Stable

Domestic road transport of passengers, tourists and cargo is reserved to Mexicans or Mexican companies with a foreigners exclusion clause, so a foreign investor cannot hold any stake in a domestic trucking or bus company, though courier and parcel services are open. Federal trucking permits are granted to anyone who meets the requirements, for an indefinite term, with a decision due within 30 calendar days (45 for complex cases). Toll roads and federal bridges are built and run under concessions to Mexican persons or companies (which may have foreign shareholders) for up to 30 years, renewable for an equal period.

USD conversions use MXN 18.6638 per US dollar, the US Federal Reserve H.10 noon buying rate in New York for 23 October 2026 (FRED series DEXMXUS), the latest observation available when this page was verified. Legal conversions in Mexico use the Banxico FIX, which differs slightly. Conversions are for orientation only. Fines set in UMA use the 2026 daily UMA of MXN 117.31 published by INEGI in the DOF of 9 January 2026.

Key facts

Foreign ownership cap in domestic land transport of passengers and cargo	0 %LIE art. 6, section I, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum term of a federal road or bridge concession	30 yearsLCPAF art. 6, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
SICT decision period for a federal permit (45 for complex cases)	30 calendar daysLCPAF art. 9, as of 2026-10-26 · in force

The rule

1. Mexicans only. Domestic land transport of passengers, tourism and cargo, excluding courier and parcel services, is reserved exclusively to Mexicans or Mexican companies with a foreigners exclusion clause. Foreign investors may not participate directly or through trusts, agreements, bylaws, pyramid structures or any other mechanism giving control or any participation, except through neutral investment under Title Five of the Foreign Investment Law.
Cost to do it: No fee; the restriction shapes the structure.
Example: A US logistics company can own 100 percent of a Mexican warehouse operator and a parcel service, but its Mexican trucking subcontractors must be Mexican owned. / No currency threshold applies.Ley de Inversión Extranjera, DOF 27 December 1993, last reform DOF 27 May 2024, LIE art. 6, section I, 2024-05-27 official text · verified 2026-10-26

2. Federal permits. A SICT permit is needed for federal cargo, passenger and tourism trucking, inland cargo terminals, towing and storage of vehicles, courier and parcel services, passenger terminals, works and access in the federal right of way, and private transport of people and cargo, among others. Permits for trucking, towing, courier and private transport are granted to anyone who meets the law and regulations, only to Mexicans or Mexican companies, and for an indefinite term (advertising permits excepted). SICT must decide within 30 calendar days of a complete application, or 45 for complex cases; where the regulation so provides, silence means approval.
Cost to do it: Permit duties are under the Ley Federal de Derechos; not restated here.
Example: A Mexican trucking firm applying in March for a federal cargo permit should have a decision by April if the file is complete. / No currency threshold applies.Ley de Caminos, Puentes y Autotransporte Federal, DOF 22 December 1993, last reform DOF 14 November 2025, Arts. 8 and 9, 2025-11-14 official text · verified 2026-10-26

3. Toll roads and bridges. A concession is needed to build, operate, exploit, preserve and maintain federal roads and bridges. Concessions go to Mexicans or companies incorporated under Mexican law (foreign shareholders allowed, since highway construction is not restricted), last up to 30 years and may be extended for an equal term after the first third when unforeseen investments are justified, or at any time for causes not attributable to the concessionaire.
Cost to do it: Before granting or extending, SICT needs a Finance Ministry opinion on profitability and sets the consideration payable to the federal government (art. 6 Bis).
Example: An infrastructure fund owns 100 percent of the Mexican company holding a 30 year toll road concession; a 30 year extension is possible if new works are required. / No statutory amount; terms are set per concession.Ley de Caminos, Puentes y Autotransporte Federal, last reform DOF 14 November 2025, Arts. 6 and 6 Bis, 2025-11-14 official text · verified 2026-10-26

Worked example

A Canadian 3PL serving nearshoring plants in Nuevo León sets up a 100 percent owned Mexican company for warehousing and customs logistics, subcontracts domestic haulage to Mexican owned carriers with SICT permits, and runs cross border legs under its own permits for international service. It could invest in Mexican trucking only through neutral investment.

Step by step

1. Separate domestic trucking (Mexicans only) from warehousing, courier and logistics (open).
2. Vet carriers' SICT federal permits.
3. For toll roads, bid in SICT tenders through a Mexican company and model the 30 year term and extension conditions.

Common traps

Using a trust or side agreement to control a Mexican trucking company: barred by LIE art. 6.
Treating parcel and courier as restricted: they are excluded from the reservation (LIE art. 6, section I).

Sources

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