Mexico Trucker Online

Jimmy Hoffa Jr. this weekend furthering his agenda of striking unnecessary fear into the hearts of those who know nothing about the American Trucking Industry.

Some of Jimbo’s comments and my response to them:

In prepared remarks, the union president said the Bush administration has “sucker-punched” American workers by opening highways to Mexican trucks.

This has, nor will it have, any effect on American workers, now or in the future. America has over 11 million CDL holders compared to Mexico’s 270,000.

Hoffa told the annual Teamsters Women’s Conference at the Hilton Americas hotel that drugs could come in the U.S. across the border in the trucks. He said that although the Bush administration says it is concerned about national security, the program will threaten safety.

So now we have the “security” card being thrown into the mix. It is sad that some people have their heads so firmly entrenched between the cheeks of their asses they can’t realize just how tough the security is on all trucks entering the country. But put aside the Mexican truck issue for a moment. It doesn’t exist! No Mexican truckers are taking cargo to the interior. PEOPLE! THE FRIGGING TRAILERS ARE STILL GOING TO CROSS THE BORDER. It makes no difference who is behind the wheel. And the DEA mentions in it’s 2007 report that drugs are walked across the border, stashed in safe houses until transport is found to run them north. And who is most likely to be behind the wheel of the 18 wheeler being found transporting drugs or illegals? That good ol’ American truck driver, that greedy American truck driver, looking to make a little extra pocket change. The facts bear this out. The trucks you see in impound at the interior Border Patrol checks are all U.S. registered, some from the mega companies and most, owner operators. There was even one the other day with a big ol’ OOIDA sticker on the side of the sleeper. (photos in one of the posts on this site)

“It’s a disaster waiting to happen,”

Mexican buses driven by Mexican bus drivers holding the same Licencia de Federal have been allowed to conduct business in this country for 20 years. You would be hard pressed to find any occurrences of “disasters” as the critics charge will happen with the trucks. On the other hand, not a day goes by that you don’t turn on the XM and hear of a traffic back up or a road closure due to a fatal or substantial accident involving one or more U.S. 18 wheelers. And in the middle of the most vocal critics backyard, Cincinnati Ohio seems to have this happening on a daily basis. What about that, Steve and Bubba?

But the other side responded to these outlandish comments from Jimbo Hoffa.

John Hill, Administrator for FMCSA:

“the inspector general affirmed its plans to go beyond statutory requirements and to check every truck crossing the border.”

“every audit the inspector general has done since 2002 found the department made substantial compliance in meeting requirements laid out by Congress.”

“the pilot program’s safety protocols are more rigorous for Mexican carriers than they are for U.S. carriers. And he questioned why Hoffa is concerned that U.S. trucking companies can’t compete with Mexican trucking companies.”

“some of the comments being made are unduly alarming to the public. He stressed last week that the program meets all public safety requirements.”

And that is the basis of this post! Why is it that the once almighty Teamsters, and the increasingly irrelevant OOIDA are “skeered” of a few Mexican trucks? Do they really believe that the Mexican transportation industry will turn their collective backs on the needs of their country and come balls to the wall to the United States to operate here? Especially with the rules of cabotage in place and being enforced? Get a life people!

And yes! John Hill is correct. If you read the requirements for the program, it does meet all public safety requirements and in some parts, goes beyond what is mandated by Congress. But the critics and other opponents choose to ignore the facts since they do not comply with their propaganda. How sad