Why Trucks Are Being Forced To Turn Back At The US Border

In this week’s episode of the FreightCaviar Podcast, we sat down with Adán Capuchino Monrreal, México Branch Director, and Sergio I Martinez Hinojosa, Operations Supervisor, at Little John Transportation Services, Inc. They discuss the advantages of being a Landstar agent, the future of nearshoring in Mexico, and the impact tariffs are currently having on businesses.

From Startup to Standout: Guadalajara’s Branch Boom

Since opening its doors four years ago, the Guadalajara branch of Little John Transportation Services has grown from a four-person to a 20-person team. It is one of the eight Mexican branches of the company, headquartered in Laredo, TX. 

These days, Adán says, they mostly service the electronics and pharmaceutical industry. Little John Transportation Services Inc. works with renowned technology companies such as Foxconn, IBM, and JBL. 

Their quick rise to success comes from hard work and a close relationship with their carriers.

“I believe that one of the good things that we have is that we know the owners of the Mexican carriers, and we know their teams. We don’t need our corporate office to coordinate loads here in Mexico with the carriers. If something happens, we go to the manager. We can solve any problem that we can face that way.”

Success Driven by Relationships 

Adán emphasized the importance of having people who understand how the locals think.

“Mexican customers are special. They want everything- they want technology but they also want a guy that gives the information and the status of the shipments. This is why you need to have people that understand customers.”

He also mentioned the industries currently offering the greatest potential for nearshoring opportunities.

“The automotive and aerospace industries are the main ones that have opportunities for us in Mexico.”

Your Road to Success Starts with Landstar

Adán also shared his experience and explained the benefits of being a Landstar agent.

“When you work in the Landstar network or use its assets, we can offer a lot of trailers. As agents, we have a lot of capacity here in Mexico, which is one of the big differences.”

Tariff Trouble

When asked about the current tariff dispute between the U.S. and Mexico, this is what they had to say. 

“It’s crazy. Every week is different. It seems like the last announcement was good for us, but we don’t know what will happen in the future.”

They say the effects of the last negotiation are already visible in their company. 

“We’ve faced three scenarios. The first: some of our customers came to us wanting to send out all the commodities they’ve had in their warehouse. The others don’t load anything. Last scenario: some send the minimum they can.”

The Future of Commerce

Sergio observed an upward shift in the shipments but says with all the changes, he sees it as something that is holding the increase in commerce.

“It can be skyrocketing right now but all that has been holding the commerce up. People are scared to invest.”

Customer Relationship Dynamics: U.S. vs. Mexico

We also delved into the topic of building relationships with customers and explored the differences between caring for them in the U.S. and Mexico.

Where in the U.S. things feel transactional, in Mexico, long-term relationships with customers are a priority. According to Adán and Sergio, this is the key to having more business.

With nearshoring opportunities expanding and tariffs reshaping the landscape of the industry, companies like Little John Transportation Services are a testament to what is possible when quality meets customer care.

Listen to the entire interview on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or watch it on our YouTube Channel.