An Open Invitation

WCP. You are apparently an intelligent person as are most of us, so don't insult our intelligence by using thoroughly debunked crap from anti trucking groups.

That link you posted this from is a collaboration of PATT, CRASH and others who are working night and day to destroy the American trucking industry in retaliation for one driver causing the death of some of their family members.

Mexican carriers are not much different than American and Canadian counterparts. It's a business.

Canada has much more liberal HOS laws than we do yet we hear nothing about that. When they cross into the US, they are under our laws. Same for the Mexicans.

Many Mexican carriers pay their drivers salaries. Some per mile, but the majority are salaried. The companies keep time sheets. Haz Mat drivers in Mexico are required to keep log books. That's slowly changing as they adopt some of out practices.

Drivers that are proficient in English are at a premium in Mexico and during the Cross Border Program, were held to run in this country.

"Standards", as defined by OOIDA, have nothing to do with anything. What matters, is that Canadians and Mexicans, comply with our laws, regulations and standards when operating in our country. What they do in their is nobodies business but theirs.

Do they have drug testing? They certainly do. As part of the Mexican CDL process, For cause, random etc.

Do they have "chain of custody? No they don't! They don't need it.

When they test for drugs and alcohol as part of the application process for their CDL, it is done as part of the physical and psychological testing at a government facility. Observed collection taken into the next room by a lab tech and tested on the spot.

Random and post accident. The Feds have mobile drug labs that can be sent to the scene whenever a Federal officer requests it. Again, preliminary testing on the spot by a physician

Many of the major companies employee a company doctor on site for such testing and physical exams of employees thought to be impaired.

Mexico has many things in place and has for years that we are just now seeing being crammed down our throats.

Do you really think a Mexican carrier exec wants to put junk out on the road with unqualified drivers? Remember, in Mexico, an accident is usually a criminal, not a civil event as it is in the US. If negligence is determined on the part of the driver or the company, the driver and a company executive/owner will be locked up for trial. That is Mexican law. The driver can also lose his Federal commercial driving privileges for 10 years to life.

While it is true Mexico doesn't have the same anal regulatory structure as we do in the US, what they have seems to work. It relies a lot on personal responsibility.

Driving a truck in Mexico is a ###### good paying job as opposed to other blue collar jobs and these guys know it and respect the limits of their jobs.

We're talking mainline OTR drivers here. The cross border drayage bunch is a horse of a different color.

 

1. As part of the Mexican process for obtaining a Licencia Federal, a background check is required. During the Cross Border Program, as part of the PASA, all companies and drivers were subjected to a Criminal background check. As US CDL holders, we are not required to have a background check (Criminal) unless applying for a TWIC or HAZMAT endorsement. And yes, Mexican carriers do check employees references before hiring.

2. The cheap rates at the moment are supply and demand and mega carriers like Celadon cutting rates on the border to keep their fleet running. I work for a border carrier and during the Cross Border Program, we saw absolutely ZERO effect on our rates or load availability. The tariff's, however, are beginning to hurt us on southbound freight.

3. One of the biggest lies of this debate is that Mexican's will undercut your rate. How can they? Sure, their drivers are paid less, but that is offset by the cost of additional insurance to operate in the US, the cost of IFTA taxes and other permitting fees, the requirement to maintain and "Agent of Service" in all 48 states. In addition, Mexican companies have fees and taxes we don't have.

4. Rates? At the moment, Laredo Texas to Monterrey Mexico is paying $450-550 dollars on a 165 mile run. The hundred dollar difference depends if the shipper wants the freight to go by the free road or the toll road. Rates from Laredo Texas to Mexico City and surrounding areas is holding steady at $1250-1400 dollars on a 750 mile run.

5. Fuel is NOT cheaper in Mexico. FUEL PRICES AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. July average is $7.83 pesos per liter. To convert this 3.82 liters = 1 US gallon. So at Junes price, a gallon of diesel in Mexico costs $2.99 per gallon

 

No, actually, these are typical and commonplace Mexican linehaul trucks




And this one (Lonestar Transportations Mexican subsidiary)


Or perhaps these!



Or perhaps a different shot of the above. Notice the old JB Hunt cabovers in the background? Used for cross border drayage, and each one owned by this company practically in the same shape as the days that JBH owned them


Mmmm. Where's the junk?