mexican trucks

Whats a tachograph?

 

It records top speed, rpm, average speed, engine hours, idle time. It can also record driver hours, rest hours, etc. They use either paper tags or electronic systems that can print out the readings. It records for 24 hours and can keep logs up to 7 days. Most police organizations in Europe can request a driver provide his tachograph reading for review at any time. It's not uncommon for EU drivers to be ticketed for speeding long after the initial violation because the officer saw on the tachograph that he was exceeding the speed governor on his truck (usually set by law at 85km/h or 53 mph).

Here's a website from the UK that explains how to read them.

http://www.msknight.com/life/drivectaco.htm

There's a switch on the tachograph that allows it to be switched between drivers (if it's a team operation), rest periods, etc. The traditional paper tachographs are being replaced by digital units that log everything electronically and are activated by the driver inserting a card into the dash unit.

Tachographs used to be used all the time in the US before the engine makers came up with electronic systems to log driver performance info.

 

no. they have to go back across the border.

 

Mexican drivers currently are allowed to work 8.5 hours in a shift if the shift begins during the daylight period. If the shift begins at night, they are allowed 7.5 hours of work.

Can a Mexican driver drive 10 hours in Mexico and then do 10 in the US? I suppose he could but it is unlikely. The question to be asked, could you do this? I couldn't. Nor could most of us.

There is another consideration also. In Mexico, unlike the US, an accident is a criminal violation, not civil as it is here. If the driver is found at fault in an accident because of equipment failure, falling asleep at the wheel or general reckless conduct, his butt goes to jail on the spot. A Judge can suspend his Federal License for up to 10 years.

Cause a death or major injury? Same thing and if the same conditions are present, revocation for life and prison time, sometimes for the owner of the truck or trucking company also.

Personal responsibility and the knowledge of the severe penalties is enough to keep most in line.

How do we know they comply? Keeping in mind they don't have to comply with our HOS just as the Canadians don't have to comply in their country, and they're allowed to be on duty for 16 hours a day. we don't. But,

If you'll look at the companies involved in this program, most of them are based close to or within two or three hours of the border.

These companies keep their English proficient drivers available to participate.

The rules state they can only cross when a DPS inspection station is open and inspectors are on duty. The stations must be open when the commercial border crossings are open. So if they arrive at night at the border, they can't cross until morning.

We've followed drivers for Transportes Olympics out of Monterrey and they generally come to the border, cross and go as far as San Antonio before breaking. We're also seeing their trucks parked in Laredo during the night.

Another thing is that not many trucks operate on the weekends in Mexico. This gives them another day of rest.

If anyone wants to see what a true Mexican line haul truck is working today in Mexico, I posted about 35 photos on my profile.

You're welcome to check them out. I think some of them will surprise you.

 

The rules state pick up in Mexico, deliver in US, the load picked up in the US must terminate in Mexico. Anything more is a violation of cabatage laws.

Now, the rules that have nothing to do with NAFTA or the Pilot Program also provide for a Mexican carrier who has a US operation to us the Mexican licensed driver and a truck with dual registration in both countries.

A 1992 MUA between the FMCSA and SCT determined that US CDL's and Mexican Licencia Federal de Conductors were similar enough to be accepted by US law enforcement

This might be the exception to the rule of crossing the border.