Here Come the Mexican Trucks and Truckers

[sparklynails23]

The DOT is going to extend the area in which Mexicans can drive semi's in the U.S. Right now, they can only drive in a limited area close to the border. Do you think this is a good idea? With the lawlessness, the drug trade, and other border issues in Mexico, this just seems like a terrible idea. Not to mention, we should keep what jobs we have for U.S. workers.

 

[JessicaR]

I was wondering if you have a link?

 

[sparklynails23]

Here's one link, but I heard it on NPR.

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jan/10/policy-reversal-will-allow-mexican-truckers-us-aga/

 

[JessicaR]

I did a search and found one article. Talk about keeping it quiet. It did say,"A formal proposal, which the public will have the opportunity to comment on, is expected to be announced in the coming months." So I'm guessing this isnt happening tomorrow.

I would not like to see this happen.



http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stor...programMexicostressesimportanceofnewpact.aspx

 

[momrek06]

Here's one link, but I heard it on NPR.

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jan/10/policy-reversal-will-allow-mexican-truckers-us-aga/

Oh my.

 

[JessicaR]

Here's one link, but I heard it on NPR.

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jan/10/policy-reversal-will-allow-mexican-truckers-us-aga/

Thank you!

 

[Cat0727]

Here's one link, but I heard it on NPR.

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jan/10/policy-reversal-will-allow-mexican-truckers-us-aga/

Not good.

 

[christiane]

The DOT is going to extend the area in which Mexicans can drive semi's in the U.S. Right now, they can only drive in a limited area close to the border. Do you think this is a good idea? With the lawlessness, the drug trade, and other border issues in Mexico, this just seems like a terrible idea. Not to mention, we should keep what jobs we have for U.S. workers.

That is generalizing an entire nation based on the actions of the few. Should US trucks be banned from coming into Canada because that is where most handguns in this country come from?

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Isn't this politics?

 

[LuvOrlando]

No, this is safety.

WOW, so let me get this straight. We are supposed to open our border to anyone Mexico decides is okie dokie and forget they are utterly incapable of reigning in murderous drug violence in their own country. Never mind how easy it would be for terrorists to pay off corrupt politicians to get jobs in their trucking industry hauling heaven knows what into our country while I can't take a flight without getting grabbed because there are terrorists lurking around every corner?

Are these fools serious, please tell me this isn't serious?

Thanks for posting this, I am not generally a 100 percent union person but in this instance they absolutely have a point.. Many good points in fact. Unbelievable, sometimes I just can't believe my eyes

 

[okeydokey]

I don't care if the truckers are Mexican or Canadian, if they are not following US standards for safety and driver standards, then they should not be welcome on US roads.

 

[momof1princess]

I don't care if the truckers are Mexican or Canadian, if they are not following US standards for safety and driver standards, then they should not be welcome on US roads.

MTE!

 

[ford family]

What are the current or proposed restrictions on American truckers driving into Mexico?

ford family

 

[Simba's Mom]

I live not too far from the Border (my office is 1 block from a border-crossing bridge), and condition of some of the Mexican trucks I see is appalling. In the link, they referred to anti-lock brakes. Some trucks look like whether they have any brakes is questionable. DS used to work in a business that regularly dealt with truckers coming from Mexico-we wondered about the quality of the vehicle inspectiom standards. Don't let them any further up on US roads, and please, enforce the vehicle safety standards on them.

 

[bumbershoot]

What are the current or proposed restrictions on American truckers driving into Mexico?

ford family

Seriously good question.


Amazing how different the two articles linked to in this thread are! In info, scope, and good vs bad.

from thetrucker.com

The initial concept document, which is a starting point in the renewed negotiations with Mexico, addresses concerns raised during that process, LaHood said.

A Department of Transportation spokesman said the concept released Jan. 6 had several regulatory enhancements not included in the pilot program, including:

• All vehicles will be equipped with electronic on-board recording devices to allow monitoring of drivers’ Hours of Service and compliance with U.S. cabotage laws.

• Each driver will have their combined U.S. and complete Mexican driving history checked to ensure that they have no history of unsafe driving that would disqualify them under U.S. standards.

• The safety records of each company kept by the Government of Mexico will be examined in addition to any U.S. operating history the company may have, and

• Each driver will have his/her English language proficiency and knowledge of U.S. traffic laws verified before being allowed to operate within the U.S.

The American Trucking Associations said it welcomed the announcement.

Won't this decrease the time each shipment takes, since you don't have to offload then load another truck? Won't that decrease the cost of those goods ultimately?

 

[Magic Mom]

What about insurance? I think my answer would depend on the insurance they are required to carry and where the policy originates from.

 

[EMom]

I live not too far from the Border (my office is 1 block from a border-crossing bridge), and condition of some of the Mexican trucks I see is appalling. In the link, they referred to anti-lock brakes. Some trucks look like whether they have any brakes is questionable. DS used to work in a business that regularly dealt with truckers coming from Mexico-we wondered about the quality of the vehicle inspectiom standards. Don't let them any further up on US roads, and please, enforce the vehicle safety standards on them.

Amen to that. If you've even been to Mexico, the condition of many of the vehicles (commercial and otherwise) would make you drop your jaw. I am not eager to have them on our highways. And what about the lack of ability to read road signs? Several years ago, I was rear-ended by a driver of a Mack truck who spoke Spanish exclusively. It's a miracle I wasn't killed. I have always wondered if part of the reason he failed to stop when he exited the freeway and approached the red light at the intersection at the end of the off ramp below was because he hadn't a clue as to what the road signs said. Lord knows all the rest of us managed to stop and not hit each other. Seriously, why would anyone think it's a peachy idea to put drivers who can't read English behind the wheel of huge trucks that can't exactly stop on a dime and do massive damage when they hit anything? And don't say I'm assuming too much, because I guarantee you the majority of them will not read English. It's just lunacy. I don't buy for a minute that we will actually enforce the requirement that they be able to read English.

Geez Louise, we can't keep the drugs and people from being smuggled in every minute of every day as it is. Now we're going to make it easy peasy by welcoming lots of Mexican vehicles into our country to help them out.

 

[Geoff_M]

Here's the problem... the US agreed to allow Mexican trucks into this country as part of the terms of the NAFTA treaty. We have managed to foot drag well past the implementation deadline. As a result, under the terms of the treaty Mexico is slapping us with trade sanctions after losing patience. We're reneging on our end of the deal. We had plenty of time to come up with a workable solution, but we've just chosen to keep pushing the issue down the road.

 

[undertheradar]

Exactly!

 

[EMom]

What about insurance? I think my answer would depend on the insurance they are required to carry and where the policy originates from.

Well, let me tell you what happens in Texas when you are involved in a wreck with a Mexican national and they are at fault. Typically, they scamper back across the border and you never see a dime. You cannot touch them. Hit and runs aren't uncommon, except they "run" toward the Rio Grande. We're used to it. And if a fatality is involved, you can bet the next words out of the reporter's mouth will be, "Officials believe the driver MAY be headed for Mexico."

No duh.