First Safe Truck Stop Opens in Chihuahua

In Chihuahua, the country’s first rest stop with comprehensive services has been inaugurated, representing an investment of more than US$5.9 million.

 Located at km 31+498 on Federal Highway 45, on the Chihuahua –El Sueco section, this Punto Travel Center rest stop was built in collaboration with the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SCIT) and represents a first step in the national strategy to ensure dignified and safe conditions for truck drivers and travelers using the country’s main logistics corridors.

The establishment of safe rest stops is part of compliance with Mexican Official Standard NOM-087, which establishes maximum driving times and mandatory rest periods for federal motor carrier operators, and expects to create 200 direct jobs.

Route 45 connects the border in Ciudad Juárez with the center of the country, with an average of 13,000 vehicles per day, including both heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles, noted Jaime Longoria, CEO of Oxxo Gas, during the opening ceremony.

The project was in the planning and construction phases for two years and was conceived as a comprehensive solution for operators who often travel long distances and face grueling workdays. The project features a rest area for 37 double-trailer units, with restrooms, showers, washers and dryers, climate-controlled rest areas, and round-the-clock security provided by the National Guard and the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena).

“Behind every truck we see on the road there is a person, a great deal of effort, a great deal of sacrifice, and, above all, a family waiting for them to return home. This rest stop was created for them—a space designed to provide safety, rest, and peace of mind,” said Carlos Aguirre, director of B2B at Oxxo Gas.

The complex features a fuel station for heavy equipment, a mechanic shop, roadside assistance within a 15- to 20-km radius, a store selling accessories for heavy vehicles, restaurants, and convenience stores.

This shelter is intended to serve as a model for a network of safe spaces, and, pending approval from the relevant agency, plans are in place to continue the project by establishing 15 additional spaces.