Mexico Trucker Online

We reported earlier on the press conference held on June 20, 2007 in Washington concerning the Mexican Truck Pilot Program. The participants, Todd Spencer of OOIDA, Joan Claybrook of Public Citizen, Jimmy Hoffa of the irrelevant International Brotherhood of Teamsters and assorted congress persons.

Let’s take a look at their comments.

Todd Spencer:

“Transportation Secretary Mary Peters claims truckers from Mexico will be subject to the same regulations as U.S. drivers, yet she has never said how this will be done,” said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer. “These regulations don’t exist in Mexico. Enforcement of stringent hours-of-service regulations is meaningless if a Mexican driver has been awake for a week straight when he reaches the U.S. border.”

Safety and security as a priority was indeed recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives last month when it passed the Safe American Roads Act. This legislation laid out specific safety and security measures that must be in place before the border could open. It passed by an overwhelming 411-3 margin.

“However, apparently the Bush DOT chose to thumb its nose at the Congress and at the will of the American people by pursuing its global economic agenda,” said Spencer.

If Spencer would read the addendum to 28055, it spells out exactly how the FMCSA, USDOT, CVSA and other concerned agencies intend to enforce all facets of U.S. commercial vehicle rules.

The asinine comment he makes about not knowing if the Mexican drivers were “awake for a week” before crossing the border, shows his ignorance of the facts. Considering the border is not open 24/7 as some think, and that the Mexican carrier arriving at the border when it is closed would be forced to rest until morning, and considering most of the freight these drivers will be carrying would originate within150 miles of the border, the comment is meaningless. Remember, only 155 drivers have been cleared to enter the interior of the United States. It is a good bet that these vetted drivers will not be carrying freight from the interior of Mexico but will be beginning their trip from the border.

Lake Research Group:

A new poll by the Lake Research Partners research firm reveals strong opinions on the idea of allowing trucks from Mexico to travel beyond the current commercial zones, extending 20 to 30 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border. Roughly 1,000 adult Americans were polled and it was found that a majority – 56 percent – believe the Bush administration’s plan to allow Mexico-domiciled trucks to travel throughout the United States is dangerous

The thing about polls, especially polls commissioned by a group with a stated agenda such as OOIDA, is the results can be distorted to reflect the wished of the originator of the poll. In this case, OOIDA commissioned Lake Research and they polled 1000 Americans. What demographics did they use for instance? This makes a big difference in the outcome as well as the manner in which the question was posed. To me and others, the results of this poll is meaningless..

The “report card” unveiled at the conference also pointed out legal provisions the FMCSA has not complied with, including failure to provide sufficient opportunity for public notice and comments; failure to provide the public with information about the pilot project; failure to comply with the requirements of Section 350 of the FY2002 DOT Appropriations Act on the safety of cross-border trucking; failure to comply with requirements of the pilot program law to test innovative approaches and alternative regulations under 49 USC Section 31315(c); failure of FMCSA to keep its promise to check every truck every time for compliance; and failure to establish criteria that are subject to monitoring during the pilot program.

Again, I would say to these uninformed people, READ THE addendum to 28055. All of these concerns have been addressed. Three comment periods have been opened. One in 2002, and the other two this year, the latest expiring on June 28, 2007. To check every truck every time is a ridiculous request. Once they are inspected prior to entering the country, and have a CVSA inspection sticker displayed, as required under the regulations, they are golden. Unless of course the inspections at the border uncover a defect for which they will be dealt with in the same manner as any other truck of any nationality. These fools are grasping at straws.

And when all else failed, Todd Spencer threw out the patriotism card along with the implication of the terror card.

“How can this administration possibly rationalize asking thousands of young men and women in uniform to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s safety and security thousands of miles from home – and at the same time make our southern border even more porous than it already is?” Spencer asked.

Perhaps this group should take a field trip to the southern border. Laredo to be exact and see for themselves how things are and how they will be. None of these trucks will be allowed access to the United States without a rigorous inspection by Texas DPS officers and officials of CBP.

And I will say once again something that makes American truckers madder than hell. They could take some lessons from the Mexican truckers I have observed and others who I have met when it comes to safety, courtesy and the safe operation of a commercial vehicle. These guys remind me of the way things were back in the old days of American trucking. An attitude that sadly is gone from the American trucking industry.