Mexican truck access 2 months off; Critics call plan 'unsafe'

Todays Trucking ^ | 12 March 2007 | Todays Trucking

[FLOutdoorsman]

U.S. transport authorities say Mexican trucks will start rolling north onto American highways in 60 days.

Facing criticism from trucking carriers, owner-operators, public interest and protectionist groups, DOT Secretary Mary E. Peters said the pilot program that allows select Mexican carriers to haul in the U.S. includes on-site DOT facility audits and prescreening of Mexican truckers, as well as drug tests and insurance checks.

Mexican truckers will also be restricted from carrying hazardous materials, and like Canadian carriers, will not be allowed to haul point-to-point domestically in the U.S. in violation of cabotage rules.

Currently, Mexican truckers are restricted to a 20-mile commercial zone north of the U.S.-Mexico border, at which point they must transfer goods to U.S. carriers for transport to the rest of the country.

Critics, which include the American Trucking Association, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the Teamsters, and watchdog group Public Citizen insist Mexican trucks are dangerous because, unlike Canadian carriers that have similar hours-of-service rules, Mexican HOS are not monitored until drivers cross the border.

"It is simply abhorrent to think that our government would allow Mexican trucks full access to U.S. highways before all safety, economic and homeland security concerns are completely and appropriately addressed," said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice-president. "It seems to me that the Department of Transportation is bending over backwards to accommodate Mexican motor carriers, 1,000 Mexican truckers, and the Mexican government. Yet on matters that would significantly help hundreds of thousands of American truckers and advance safety on our country's highways, we often hear from DOT officials that the department has limited resources and staff."

The Bush Administration, acknowledging its obligation under NAFTA, has been trying to lift the restriction to Mexican carriers since 2001.

[FLOutdoorsman]

'drug tests and insurance checks.'

That's good.

[Joe Boucher]

Why are we capitulating to Mexico?
Let them all enter the country illegally, let their unsafe drivers and trucks enter at will, let them use our welfare system for their baby deliveries, etc etc etc.

[Humble Servant]

If the incidence of vehicular mayhem caused in the Northeast by Canadian haulers is any indication, I'd suggest just wearing an airbag at all times within 100 feet of a road.

[TheBattman]

U.S. transport authorities say Mexican trucks will start rolling north onto American highways in 60 days

Since when is this news? I have seen semis with Mexico tags and markings for over two years now. OR is this a reference to a lot more Mexican trucks coming in?

[Wolfie]

Mexican trucks are currently limited to the number of miles past the border they can go. That restriction is being lifted.

[Gorzaloon]

Visitors to Mexico frequently are amazed at while vehicles may lack mufflers, the horns work fine.

Is this what is coming North?

[wolfcreek]

If their caravans of dangerous *one crappy vehicle towing another crappy vehicle* back TO Mexico are any indication.......

[FreeAtlanta]

Anything that will help the Mexican economy build industry that will keep "migrants" home (and from breaking our laws by illegally crossing our borders) and will provide an alternative to buying from China is a very welcome endeavor.

[1rudeboy]

Do you have any data on Canadian haulers? The last time I checked, arguing this same issue here [ahem] years ago, I found that Canadian long-haulers are "safer" than their American counterparts. I made the argument that, if people were truly concerned about safety, then we should ban American trucks altogether and let the Canadians do the work.

[R.W.Ratikal]

American trucking companies must comply with rigid safety and insurance laws regulating the condition of trucks and drivers.

Trucks must be inspected at every state port of entry and drivers must have a current medical card, proper paperwork, a driver's license, and a clean motor vehicle record.

One of the major problems is that Mexican truck drivers will have little ability to speak English. How will they issue Bills of Lading, keep logs, process the paperwork necessary to meet state and federal regulations? Answer: they won't. It will be politically correct to give them a pass.

So that big rig hovering on your rear bumper could well be driven by someone just out of the barrio, who doesn't speak English, who has no professional training, could not meet compliance requirements and has been driving too long with no sleep.

In the trucking business a company must haul freight both ways, outbound and inbound. A truck cannot be profitable running loaded one way and empty on the return trip.

Mexican trucks bringing a load from Mexico to America must return only with a load of freight destined to a point in Mexico. Mexican trucks are not permitted to haul a load with both its origin and destination in the U.S.

Almost all freight will flow from Mexico to the U.S. There will be very little returning to Mexico. American companies have located plants along the Mexican border to take advantage of the low labor costs.

[1rudeboy]

If Mexican trucks find it difficult (and thus making their trip unprofitable) to find a back-haul to Mexico, then they won't travel to the U.S. in great numbers.

[mosesdapoet]

Good post outdoorsman been looking for this ! States who will attempt to enforce their safety and other regulations may find themselves afoul of the fed (akin to.08 intox fed reg) because the of the fed funding assist on state and local roads. This is how state safety regs will be bypassed. But if a US truck gets stopped in Mexico by a state or local policia its a different story when they get to be able to traverse Mexico unimpeded.

The Canadian, Todays Trucking, link got intercepted and I was sent back to restart. The piece is posted in my website coverage on Mexico
link ? If not yahoo http://www.theusmat.com/mexico.htm

[GingisK]

The Mexican trucks will keep the road well oiled, like they do arounf Atlanta. The government might not have to repave so often. </ sarcasm>

[R.W.Ratikal]

Mexican trucks have been running all over America for years. they go around scales and ports of entry. they think $10.00 a day is grerat pay.

[R.W.Ratikal]

Mexican trucks have been running all over America for years. they go around scales and ports of entry. they think $10.00 a day is grerat pay.

[R.W.Ratikal]

Mexican trucks have been running all over America for years. they go around scales and ports of entry. they think $10.00 a day is grerat pay.

[R.W.Ratikal]

This has nothing to do with building the Mexican economy. American companies have lined the Mexican side of the border and use the cheap Mexican labor.

American companies have located in Mexico and will run trucks from Mexico to America using drivers who think $10.00 a day is great money.

The bulk of the traffic will be one-way, that is, hauling freight from Mexico to American markets. The restriction that Mexican trucks must return with freight destined to Mexico is being discarded. Mexican trucks will now be able to haul freight with both origin and destination in the U.S.

Mexican drivers, most ow whom can't read I speak English, will be carnage on the highways in very short order.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Too bad some wise person in congress doesn't work in the Jones Act to Mexican trucking in the US.

[TKDietz]

"One of the major problems is that Mexican truck drivers will have little ability to speak English. How will they issue Bills of Lading, keep logs, process the paperwork necessary to meet state and federal regulations? Answer: they won't. It will be politically correct to give them a pass."

I don't believe these guys will be given a pass if they do not comply with the laws. I've seen non English speaking truck drivers in court on tickets already and they aren't given a pass because they do not speak English. I don't see that changing. Our Highway Patrol in my state don't give people a lot of breaks and I doubt very seriously they'd change their ways to be nice to Mexican nationals coming in on the new program.

[Ben Ficklin]

The Mexican trucks have been legally crossing the US to reach Canada since 1996.

Most of them are headed to Port Huron, MI to enter Canada. That route takes then thru AR(I 30 Dallas to LR and I 40 LR to Memphis).