Werner Enterprises CEO Derek Leathers is bullish that rising foreign direct investment trends in Mexico could eventually translate into greater demand for cross-border trucking services.
Inflows of foreign direct investment into Mexico are rapidly increasing: The country saw over $55 billion invested in the first half of 2025, exceeding the new record set in the first six months of 2024, according to data from the government of Mexico.
"What I like more about it is where the inflows are coming from," Leathers told investors during the Deutsche Bank’s 2025 Transportation Conference on Aug. 12
Over $25 billion of the foreign direct investment in Mexico, or 46% of the $55 billion so far this year, came from the U.S. and Canada, according to government data.
Leathers highlighted how that mix is "much more strongly weighted" toward North America this year than it has been in the past, which could spell good news for trucking services. After all, investments typically come in stages, which ultimately translate into trucking demand as companies need carriers for their plant equipment and for future northbound sales.
According to Leathers, manufacturing investments in Mexico are coming in three stages:
- Stage one of investment, which is already happening, increases the number of shifts that are being operated out of an existing manufacturing facility.
- Stage two is when a company amplifies existing plant equipment to be more productive and increases more product assembly.
- Stage three occurs when companies make credit point investments in new plants and equipment to expand a company's footprint in Mexico. This is the "big one," per Leathers, as many of the products made during this stage will "ultimately come into the United States.”
Leathers said Werner's existing presence in Mexico, and his own strong knowledge of the country, allow the company to speak with authority on manufacturing trends in the country.
“I came to Werner to start the Mexico division. I lived and worked in Mexico City for years and years. I'm fluent in Spanish, and so when we're down there, we're able to talk to them in their language, about their trends and about their projections in ways that I think makes Werner pretty unique,” Leathers said.
In 2024, Werner celebrated 25 years of being in the Mexico market. It has a terminal in Laredo, Texas, which includes a cross-dock facility, and has over 100 associates living and working within Mexico. Over the course of its history, the company has expanded its footprint to include offices in multiple cities within the country, including Mexico City, Monterrey, Queretaro and Guadalajara.
Edwin Lopez contributed to this story.
