Cancún Dump Truck Operators Protest Hotel Haven Riviera Over ‘Pirate’ Cargo Trucks

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A group of dump truck operators staged a peaceful protest on federal Highway 307 in front of the Hotel Haven Riviera Cancún on Thursday, demanding that the resort follow the law and stop hiring “pirate” or out-of-state cargo trucks.

The truckers belong to the Transport Concessionaires Union of Benito Juárez. Ismael Flores Cahuich, secretary general of the Cancún-CROC Dump Truck Operators Union, said the six trucks that took part in the demonstration parked on the highway’s shoulder near the Moon Palace to demand respect for their concession rights.

Speaking to reporters, Flores Cahuich said the law clearly states that cargo transport services may only be provided by concession-holding vehicles. Even so, he said, hotels and contractors increasingly hire trucks bearing private, federal or out-of-state plates.

“We pay a lot of taxes in the state, but these guys come in, violate state law and walk off with the economic benefit,” he said.

Flores Cahuich said he did not know the exact size of the losses suffered by his union because of the outside haulers, but described the impact on a key industry as considerable.

“Quintana Roo lives off tourism and construction; they are hurting an important sector,” he said.

The demonstration passed without incident and did not affect third parties. The Quintana Roo Mobility Institute contacted the protesters, who asked officials to arrange a dialogue with the hotel, which they accuse of ignoring the law.

“We had already delivered letters and they ignored us. We are only asking for what is rightfully ours,” Flores Cahuich said.