On September 23, 2025, the National Energy Commission of Mexico announced new provisions requiring all tank cars and trucks transporting petroleum, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and petrochemicals to be equipped with GPS tracking and QR code identification systems. Set to go into effect October 31, 2025, the regulation’s stated purpose is to ensure visibility and traceability across Mexico’s energy transport network.
What the Regulation Requires
A key requirement is GPS data transmission with a minimum frequency of every 30 seconds during the movement of loaded tank cars.
This creates several questions for the rail industry:
Who is responsible for compliance—the car owner, shipper or railroad?
Responsibility will likely fall on a mix of stakeholders depending on lease agreements and operational arrangements. AAR S-2045 requires car owner approval for any telematics installation, meaning shippers moving product in leased equipment need their lessor to file formal approval with the AAR Technical Coordination Committee before devices can be installed and operated. This adds a layer of coordination between shippers and car owners.
What technology can meet the 30-second reporting requirement?
No existing battery-powered railcar telematics device can sustain 30-second GPS reporting without significantly impacting battery life and reliability. This is an industry-wide technical limitation. As the rail industry works toward solutions that meet the 30-second requirement, railcar owners and shippers can take practical steps to demonstrate good faith compliance.
How will Mexican authorities verify and enforce compliance?
Enforcement mechanisms and verification procedures remain unclear as the regulation is implemented.
While some details are becoming clearer, many questions remain unanswered as the industry works to understand the full scope of implementation. At Amsted Digital Solutions, we’re working closely with customers and industry peers to stay informed as this situation evolves.
How Amsted Digital Solutions Can Help
While technical standards and enforcement details continue to be clarified, equipping your fleet now positions you to demonstrate compliance readiness and respond as the situation develops.
The IQ Series™ gateway is RailPulse certified to reliably report location every 15 minutes while maintaining a 6–10-year service life. Combined with our bolster displacement magnet, it provides critical capabilities for navigating Mexico’s new mandate:
- GPS tracking with geofence alerts for location visibility and movement tracking across your fleet
- Load status validation to confirm whether tank cars are loaded or empty at any given time—essential for disputing potential violations
- Industry’s lowest total adoption cost including the bolster displacement magnet
- 15-minute bogie-mount installation per truck to minimize downtime
- Over-the-air firmware updates that unlock new capabilities without additional sensors or requiring physical device replacements
- Proven reliability with thousands of units in service worldwide, backed by Amsted Rail’s nearly 150 years of rail expertise
Beyond compliance preparation, the IQ Series gateway delivers operational benefits, including utilization-based maintenance planning, supply chain visibility, opportunistic wheel replacements, and identification of locations where wheels begin to degrade, enabling trend analysis across facilities and proactive training.
Next Steps
Amsted Rail and Amsted Digital Solutions have the inventory, production capacity and technical expertise to support you through this transition. Contact our team to discuss your specific situation, including installation timelines, pricing and technical specifications for your fleet.
