House votes to end Mexican truck program

Ronnocomot, Have you ever driven in Mexico because I have and they drive junk and theres no law except a 20 paperclipped to your drivers liscense. I lived in Yuma AZ and have spent some time in MEX. Tijuana still has open sewers, rats running everywhere and its filthy. Mexicali is a little beter but people drive like they're berserk. I would'nt want Mexican trucks running up here, they will just overwhelm the system. WE would'nt stop them all.

 

BTW/They are a pack of thieves also. More cars are stolen in Yuma than any other city of its size.

 

Sounds a lot like Detroit or the West Side of Chicago.

How exactly would a few hundred trucks (or a few thousand for that matter) overwhelm the system?
Exactly how many trucks do you think are on U.S. roads right this minute?

Use 100,000 U.S. trucks as an example, 1000 Mexican trucks add how many to the system? That's right 1%. Wow, that's a huge jump. All the trucks in the U.S might as well park.

Facts, not fear, people.

 

By the tone of your posts. The fact is you fear to reveal your true colors and are probably a Menlo, Celedon, Swift or Mega carrier exec. or supporter trying to justify cheap labor so you are able to profit in some way. And blabber away at the expense of american truck drivers who refuse to work for mexican wages.

Whatever you say Mr Stealth. Your a legend in your own mind anyway, so it's pointless to continue. Feel free to press your own button and Ramble on.

 

Ronnocomot...

Since you're not educated regarding the trucking industry...I'll provide you with some facts you have asked for. I'm sorry for not going through the trouble of providing all the links necessary to support my statement here since I am respectful of this forums rules ~ but I'm certain you're well versed with your computer and should be able to verify.

Just in the last month there has been 2 commercial vehicles crossing our border loaded with drugs. There has been a fatal accident within the commercial zone in Texas involving a Mexican trucker (4 American citizens were killed by one Mexican driver.) Earlier this year one of the Mexican trucking companies approved by FMCSA had commercial vehicles violated over 1,000 times per vehicle and was allowed to change back to OP2 status and continue to operate within the commercial zone (this alone is a complete lack of responsibility to the American people by the FMCSA.)

Professional drivers have regulations they must abide by for the safety of American citizens. There are vehicle safety regulations and driver compliance regulations, which American truckers must adhere to. Professional drivers are subject to multiple background checks. Professional drivers are subject to multiple random drug tests every year (there's not one drug testing site in Mexico.) Mexico has yet to institute any of these requirements within their trucking industry. There was an article writen last fall by a reporter which was able to acquire 5 commercial licenses in Mexico...an American in Mexico was able to purchase 5 licenses (this alone is substantial evidence of Mexico's ignorance to address the important issues within the NAFTA draft, and warrants the refusal to allow Mexican trucks on American soil in accordance to NAFTA's articles.)

Additionally...Mexican drivers are paid by Mexican trucking companies. Their rates are ridiculously lower than our professional company drivers...and for an O/O to compete with a Mexican trucking company is not competition...it's suicide to an O/O's business. How can you state opening the border is good for competitive business? The only American companies wanting to do business in Mexico are companies that have set up offices in Mexico. Two which come to mind immediately is Schneider and Swift.

There is much more involved regarding the opening of our southern border, and I will not go through the lengthy typing required to explain everything. Before you take a stand about an issue which effects Americans in a detrimental way...get informed. Do the heavy research required to understand fully the issue you are debating here.

Safe Trails and God Bless,
-ss-

 

Thank you for your insightful post. Is all of your vast Trucking Industry knowledge something you picked up a a Student or somewhere else?

Oh, and I think Swift already has plenty of cheap labor.

 

That's good.

Where have I ever mentioned making money? My opinion is slanted towards the rule of law, and NAFTA is the law.

No, they are going to run cargo back to Mexico. If they run anything else they are breaking the law and should be penalized.

Have you seen a load board lately? U.S. drivers are already battling cheap labor, except its not foreign, its other Americans. Why is freight listed at ridiculously low prices? Because they know some idiot will take the load eventually. The thousands of drivers who run freight at a loss are the ones you should be worried about, not a few hundred Mexican trucks.
If not American driver would take a load paying $1 a mile, guess what? the load who not move or the broker would raise his rates.

Nobody puts a gun to a drivers head and forces them to take a load that they KNOW is going to lose them money, that's their choice.

But I'm the dumb one, so disregard what I have to say.

 

Mr. Stealth,

By the tone of your posts you must have a financial incentive to support it. Your a either a Broker,Mega Carrier Exec or Stock Holder.

My point was that they are hauling freight both ways and taking the available freight away from an american company driver.

That has nothing to do with replacing american drivers who work for a company with foreign drivers being paid peso's vs dollars.

I just love how you use the term " driver" as an interchangeable object. So let's just clear up a few facts. The drivers that I know and talk to that are OO's, negotiate and are very educated on freight lanes. They also have a relationship with a shipper, reputable broker or are leased on at a decent rate. The company drivers that I know start at .33 - .42+ cents per mile and have health / company benefits. Now you know the difference Mr almighty truckologist.

Sorry you feel thousands of owner operators are stupid.

What does this have to do with Cheap foreign labor driving a company truck and stock holders making a profit on it?

Why should I be worried about the loss, If i run my business in a prudent manner, I have nothing to worry about. But A few hundred trucks with 2 loads per week = 400 loads a week = 1600 loads a month = 18,000+ loads a year is alot of lost revenue to American company drivers s and the income tax base. Add it up

Stay with me here and stay focused on the topic. Lets not muddy the water and change the subject, Shall we. I have been talking about Company drivers all along being replaced by foreign labor and paid by the peso. You sway like the wind on the facts and issues and change coarse like the titanic.

I will take your advise, because you can not stay focused on the facts and said it. Not me

 

I have to call you out on this one Ron.

The Supreme Court took a firm stand on "binding" treaties this year. While the case that was reviewed, wasn't NAFTA. It falls under the same rule of law....the Constitution.

So far no sitting Governor of any state has actually shown enough balls to call the Feds hand though. For fear of losing some funding...I'm sure.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89100044

Congress, and most Americans...want this treaty to become history.