Mexican Truckers Block Highways Over Robberies, Extortion

Truckers protest violence, disappearances, and lack of government action

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:54am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a truck tire tread, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the gritty challenges facing Mexico's trucking industry.Truckers' protest over violence and extortion exposes the harsh realities facing Mexico's vital transportation industry.El Paso Today

Hundreds of Mexican truck drivers have blocked highways leading to the U.S. border in protest of robberies by criminals and alleged extortion by authorities at checkpoints. The truckers are demanding the government address the violence, disappearances, and lack of protection for their industry.

Why it matters

The blockades have disrupted cross-border trade and transportation, highlighting the security challenges facing Mexico's trucking industry. Truckers play a vital role in the economy, and their concerns over safety and government inaction reflect broader issues of organized crime and corruption.

The details

The truck drivers, organized by the National Transport Operators Association, have blocked stretches of highway in several Mexican states, including outside Juarez, Chihuahua City, Camargo, Parral and Villa Ahumada. They are protesting the robbery of commercial trucks and passenger buses, as well as alleged extortion by authorities at checkpoints. The truckers say up to 200 of their colleagues have gone missing, and they want the government to provide a trust fund to support the families of victims.

  • The highway blockades began on Monday, April 7, 2026 around noon.
  • The truckers say the blockade 20 miles south of Juarez will continue until the Mexican government meets with their leaders.

The players

David Ortiz

Vice president of the National Transport Operators Association, which organized the protests.

Jaime Gomez Gonzalez

A truck driver participating in the protests.

Claudia Sheinbaum

The mayor of Mexico City, who formed a working group with truckers last year to address their concerns, which the truckers say did not provide solutions.

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What they’re saying

“What we want is an end to the violence, to the death and disappearance of truck drivers. We have had up to 200 operators who went missing and the government does nothing.”

— David Ortiz, Vice president, National Transport Operators Association

“We need a trust fund. We need to protect the widows, the (relatives) who were left unprotected. We need that support and, above all, that the government improves safety on highways.”

— David Ortiz, Vice president, National Transport Operators Association

“We need the government also to do something about rising gasoline and diesel prices and the 'bad roads' that cause unnecessary wear on our vehicles.”

— Jaime Gomez Gonzalez, Truck driver

What’s next

The truckers say the blockade 20 miles south of Juarez will continue until the Mexican government meets with their leaders to address their demands.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the security challenges and lack of government support facing Mexico's vital trucking industry. The truckers' concerns over violence, extortion, and lack of protection reflect broader issues of organized crime and corruption that the Mexican government must address to ensure the safety and economic viability of the country's transportation networks.