MEXICAN TRUCKS HERE SEPT 1st

[VULCAN1999]

Aug. 29, 2007, 12:06PM
Teamsters oppose opening for truckers from Mexico

By JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Teamsters Union said today it will ask a federal appeals courts to block the Bush administration's plan to begin allowing Mexican trucks to carry cargo anywhere in the United States.

The union said it has been told by officials in the Transportation Department's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that the first Mexican trucks will be coming across the border on Saturday.

Teamsters leaders said they planned to seek an emergency injunction Wednesday from the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

"What a slap in the face to American workers, opening the highways to dangerous trucks on Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest driving weekends of the year," said Teamsters President Jim Hoffa.

Joining the Teamsters in seeking the emergency stay were the Sierra Club and Public Citizen. "Before providing unconditional access throughout the country to tens of thousands of big rigs we know little to nothing about, we must insure they meet safety and environmental standards," Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope said.

A call to a spokeswoman at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration was not immediately returned.

The Bush administration said last week it would start the cross-border program once the Transportation Department's inspector general certifies safety and inspection plans.

Leslie Miller, a Teamsters spokeswoman, said attorneys for the federal truck safety agency advised the union's lawyers that they expect to get that certification on Friday. She said the Teamsters also were told by the agency attorneys that limited authority for trucks to begin crossing the border will be approved Saturday.

Supporters of the plan say letting more Mexican trucks on U.S. highways will save American consumers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Labor and driver-owner groups have been fighting the measure — part of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement — since it was first proposed, saying the program will erode highway safety and eliminate U.S. jobs.

A one-year demonstration project would allow 100 Mexican motor carriers full access to U.S. roads. It can begin as soon as the inspector general certifies that safety and inspection plans and facilities are sufficient to ensure the Mexican trucks are as safe as U.S. trucks.

Since 1982, Mexican trucks have had to stop within a buffer border zone and transfer their loads to U.S. trucks.[/quote]

Supporters of the plan say letting more Mexican trucks on U.S. highways will save American consumers hundreds of millions of dollars.

[datxsaw]

The Teamsters and OOIDA have been fighting the Mexican trucks, but all their valliant efforts have proven to be in vain because they've been fighting a symptom, rather than the cause of the problem: NAFTA itself. Other than merely delaying them, the only way to stop the Mexican trucks is to repeal NAFTA altogether (which the U.S. should never have signed-into in the first place and has been nothing but detrimental).

H. Con. Res. 22, which was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2007 by Congressman Virgil Goode of Virginia, is a bill to repeal NAFTA. Nothing has been happening with this legislation because very few people, probably even many congressmen, know that it even exists. The reason this bill is such a well-kept secret is that the "mainstream" media have had a total "black-out" on it; the Teamsters and OOIDA, being single-issue groups, have been failing to mention it, too.

There's much more at stake here beside the impending decimation of American trucking: Mexican trucks are sure to greatly enhance smuggling of illegal aliens, drugs, guns, and even nuclear materials. Anyone who wants to stop the Mexican trucks needs to pressure his congressmen to support H. Con. Res. 22; otherwise they'll just be wasting their time on "band-aid fixes" that only postpone the inevitable.

[knighton5]

This is the beginning, what will it be like in 5 years or 10 years from now? This will be interesting.

[stranger]

Read this partial statement from the Herald Democrat in Texas:

The government’s filing said some 4.5 million of those short trips across the U.S.-Mexico border are made each year.

“With respect to those operations, Mexican carriers are maintaining a regulatory compliance record that meets or exceeds that of United States carriers,” the government said in its Thursday filing.

Think of all the companies and drivers out of work if even half of those 4.5 million loads are delivered here into the US instead of being switched out at the border.

I believe the second paragraph is a complete joke. It's like the old saying, "I'm from the government, and I am here to help you."

[Ronnocomot]

Originally Posted by stranger

Read this partial statement from the Herald Democrat in Texas:

The government’s filing said some 4.5 million of those short trips across the U.S.-Mexico border are made each year.

“With respect to those operations, Mexican carriers are maintaining a regulatory compliance record that meets or exceeds that of United States carriers,” the government said in its Thursday filing.

Think of all the companies and drivers out of work if even half of those 4.5 million loads are delivered here into the US instead of being switched out at the border.

The point you are missing is that U.S. carriers can go get the loads in Mexico.


I believe the second paragraph is a complete joke. It's like the old saying, "I'm from the government, and I am here to help you."

Everyone needs to read the NAFTA Agreement in full I guess.

[stranger]

The point you are missing is that U.S. carriers can go get the loads in Mexico........

Everyone needs to read the NAFTA Agreement in full I guess.

US carriers do not want to go into Mexico, at least with US drivers. When the Nascar Busch series runs in Mexico, the trucks have to line up at the border and convoy with armed escort to the track.

Another point, if Mexican trucks are already here, and the drivers are making half of what US drivers do, who do you think will get the return loads to Mexico. Besides, there are far more loads from Mexico to the US than the other way around.

Not wanting Mexican trucks here can be called protectionism, because that is exactly what it is. I want to protect US jobs and smaller US companies.

My state has been turned upside down by NAFTA, one of the biggest pieces of garbage legislation ever signed. Factories are closed and empty run down buildings are everywhere. It has taken years for people to get jobs to replace the many thousands lost here. Most are now working odd days and odd hours over a 7 day schedule, with little or no benefits, where they once worked an 8-10 hour day, Monday to Friday. Many have to work two jobs to earn what one once paid.

Yea, NAFTA has helped us alright. Just wait untill the so-called "trial period" is over. If drivers think wages and miles are low now, wait until there is almost no freight, and you are competing with a driver making 12 CPM.

Also, the "guest worker" program is nothing but a scam to get foreign workers here driving, and working in what plants we have left, for much less money than US workers.

Big business wrote NAFTA, and when has big business ever looked out for anyone but themselves.

Chrysler just hired Bob Nardelli to be CEO. This is the same person who destroyed Home Depot. He turned it from a decent paying, fairly good place to work, into a ripped apart, low paying, terrible moral company, that will fire every older employee at the drop of a hat, and hire three part-time workers to take their place.

He was forced to leave Home Depot, and now he is going to do the same thing at Chrysler.

What does this have to do with this thread?

How many plants does Chrysler have in Mexico? Who will a hatchet man hire to haul his goods? US workers that he has proven he does not care about, or Mexican workers who will haul for less?

We all know the answer to that question. Chrysler won't be the only company to haul cheap. Every company will do this also. Remember the ONLY thing is the bottom line.

Another point. Bad lending practices are not the only reason for home foreclosures being so rampant. Stagnant or decreasing wages played a major part also. Low wages caused by cheap imports. Goods that US workers used to make. Low wages because illegal workers are here taking what jobs are left for less money.

Yes NAFTA, CAFTA, and all the other alaphabet agreements have helped us so much. These agreements are signed for two things, money for big business, and to keep inflation low during whichever administration happens to be in office at the time. Let the next president deal with with the fallout, keep prices low right now so everyone can go to WalMart and buy cheap goods.

Sooner or later the cows have to come home. That is the time when only the upper class have enough money to buy what they want and need. The middle and lower classes will barely be able to survive because most jobs that are left after outsourcing will be taken by low wage illegal workers. US citizens will have to work for the same low wages as the illegal worker in order to get the remaining jobs.

The cows are on the way home. I can hear mooing in the distance.

Mexican trucks are just another piece of the puzzle.

[TruckingBum]

They say can u hear me now.
Can you see them now? any pictures of their fancy trucks?

[WiseOne]

There in lies the unfairness of it all. Of course Mexicans will crap all over themselves to run up in America, not only to bring drugs, illegals, and freight up...but to get away from the hell of their existence in Mexico and the rampant corruption. They know Americans don't want to go down there...so it does Americans NO good whatsoever. Talk about the short end of the stick (in this case broke off in the buttocks of the American people).

[capt_dugout]

our gov has soldout many workers in america and you are the latest!!!!!!!!!
I think truckers can shove this up our govs butt. A 3-4 day total shut down of trucking would have them crapping their pants. this could be put out on cb radios and executed in a matter of days and nearly all truckers could participate (a week off is a small price to pay for your future job and wage security). this country would shrivel up and die without the AMERICAN TRUCKERS...

SHOW OUR GOVERNMENT THE POWER OF TRUCKERS AND PUT A STOP TO THIS MADNESS !!!THE TRUCKERS I KNOW WONT TAKE THIS LAYING DOWN

[moujick]

Originally Posted by capt_dugout

our gov has soldout many workers in america !!!!!!!!!
I think truckers can shove this up our govs butt a 3-4 day total shut down of truching would have them crapping their pants. this could be put out on cb radios and executed in a matter of days and nearly all truckers could participate (a week off for your future job and wage security). this country would shrivel up and die without the AMERICAN TRUCKERS...

SHOW OUR GOVERNMENT THE POWER OF TRUCKERS AND PUT A STOP TO THIS MADNESS

you are rightour our gov has soldout many workers in america