Mexico trucks?

I didn't think you had good boarder paying loads.

What will change is transfer warehouses will cross the boarder. This will allow a mexican truck that would bring it across the boarder, grab a trailer and head back to grab the trailer in Mexico and take it to Chicago and grab something back from Chicago.

Most of this is tied up by big comanies that have Mexican division so we will likely not see as big of rate hit.

I am just not sure how we will manage the safety issues. In Canada, they are on top of safety. Not so in Mexico. And we all know that having US legal logs has nothing to do with safety.

 

Mexican trucks will have the same "rights" to freight as is currently in place for Canadian trucks: They haul a load in, may take a transition load that places them near a load going back to Mexico. What that means, is if a Mexican truck hauls a load to Chicago and the return-to-Mexico load picks up in Memphis, it will be legal for the truck to haul something from Chicago to Memphis.

 

INCORRECT. Canadians and future Mexicans CANNOT legally haul a load that originates and terminates in the US! They can only haul into and out of their country.

 

No Injun, You are incorrect. What you suggest, would be a violation of cabotage.

They could not take a load to Memphis from Chicago in order to pick up a load back to Mexico. What they are allowed to do is deadhead from Chicago to Memphis in order to pick up the load back to Mexico.

 

Currently US carriers deliver in Canada, then reload for the US, Canadian carriers deliver in US then reload for Canada.

I do believe there is a provision in NAFTA that allows a Canadian Carrier to reload in the US and deliver in the US providing that the load is destined for a point on his way home, and that he must after delivery, cross back to Canada empty. US drivers have the same reciprocity in Canada. The big HOWEVER, is that US Customs and Immigration rules and Canadian Customs and Immigration rules both classify that as illegally working in US/Canada.

So what we have are two separate Federal departments with opposing rules. It comes down to who has the biggest stick and Customs and Immigrations wins, so we abide by their rules.

 

Tom, I am not familiar with that allowance for either country although some have suggested it's happening. Some have also suggested US carriers in Canada can do that (it's called "repositioning") however the Canadians can't here. The rules are totally screwed when you think about it.

Cabotage is enforced by Department of Homeland Security/Immigration here, not the FMCSA. That's the main reason we don't need to worry about the Mexicans breaking cabotage.

Unlike the Canadians, who can pretty much enter this country with a passport, the Mexicans need an entry visa and an "H" visa. Breaking cabotage would be considered "working" for the sake of discussion and would be in violation of their visas, which could be revoked, the holder "deported" and not allowed back in for a minimum of 10 years. Quite harsh and the visas for our southern neighbors are extremely difficult to obtain.

Again, another examply of this agreement not being a "level playing field" as it puts more stringent requirements on the Mexicans

 

I must have misunderstood the way it was written then. Wouldn't be the first time.

 

Don't know about that last statement bill. We have historical evidence/stats that the Mexican trucks, (border trucks, certificated legacy trucks and those with special authority) have an equal and in many cases, superior safety record than we do. They must get that from somewhere. Perhaps in their own country where the consequences for breaking the rules can include prison and revocation of license.

 

Heh....is that why the Mexican cross border guys in Laredo come on this side of the border and will run your arse down if you don't move quick enough? I hated going to the drop yards in Laredo. Do all kinds of crazy stuff like pass you on the right while you have your turn signal on getting ready to go into a yard. Yes, that is my own personal experience.