Werner - Mexican Trucks to Lower U.S. Drivers Wages - Put O/O's out of business

Everybody has been reading about the 'Mexican truck scare' for several years now. But it looks like the real deal is coming at last.

It was news to me to find out what maybe a lot of you already know -- that is: Werner has been leading the charge to open the Mexico market. Most of “The Big 10″ are eager for the border to open. Werner and Con Way regularly go down to the Port at Ensenada. U.S. companies have terminals in Mexico already.

According to Allen Smith, trucking activist, DOT has confirmed that "cabotage laws" would see nothing wrong with the following scenario:

“If a Mexico based truck delivers a load to Idaho, can the driver legally drive from Idaho to Missouri to pick up a load going back to Mexico? It is 1,617 miles from Boise, Idaho to St. Louis, Missouri, so can this driver travel any number of miles in the United States once he or she is empty, to pick up a load going back to Mexico? Is this correct?”

Answer:

“Yes, you are correct. The distance isn’t the answer but rather defining and understanding the movement.” (Dolores Macias, U.S. DOT)

So,,, Mexican trucks and their drivers will have full access to U. S. travel. Here is the big problem that will most likely be coming . . .

Although the driver can deadhead for the load heading straight back to Mexico, because of the way the cabotage laws are written, it will offer opportunity for U. S. interstate freight to be moved by Mexican nationals for American companies, (whether they be domiciled in Mexico or the U. S.) at cheaper wages; even though the law states they may not pick up and deliver within the United States.

Keep in mind that American companies can hire Mexican nationals as long as they are moving freight to and from Mexico. However, if these drivers can travel throughout the U. S. to pick up another shipment in order to return to Mexico, the temptation to pick up and deliver another load “along the way” is great. From what we understand, there have been Canadian drivers who are already doing this and have been for many years. It only takes a few “changes” on the shipping papers to make it happen.

Because the cross border opening just happens to fall right in line with the enactment of the CSA and the renewal of NAFTA, it is all about moving the freight at the exploitation of the Mexican drivers at a lower wage. Furthermore, American drivers will continue to remain at their stagnate pay scale due to the influx of a low-pay group of drivers . . . the main objective of the cross border action. Both Mexican and American truck drivers will be the pawns used in the cross border trucking exploitation.

Even if the Mexican drivers and the U. S. trucking companies adhere to the cabotage laws and do not allow the transporting of goods within the United States before returning to Mexico, I contend that eventually, the companies and trucking organizations will call for this ban to be lifted, citing the excuse of a truck driver shortage.

This is why the ATA, whose First Vice Chairman now is Dan England of C.R. England fame, is on side with this, together with Bill Graves, former Governor of Kansas and current President of the American Trucking Association. Graves' family also has had trucking interests. On May 19th, 2010 he said on NPR that he thinks that it’s discriminatory to block Mexican trucks and drivers.

According to an article I read last week, the U.S. and Mexico are ready to go with this by August 2011.