We know who took the money - Two senators move to ban Mexican trucks from US roads
Sep 10, 2007 Congressional
Two influential senators proposed a plan to ban Mexican trucks from U.S. roads on Monday, saying not enough has been done to make sure they are safe.Democratic Sen. Byron DorKan of North Dakota and Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, want to strip funding for a pilot program launched last week giving Mexican carriers full access to America’s roadways.
Their proposal, scheduled for a U.S. Senate vote Tuesday morning, came the same day the first Mexican truck participating in the long-delayed free trade program delivered its cargo to North Carolina.
Republicans said they would oppose any plan to keep Mexican carriers out of the U.S. They said Mexico has more stringent trucking standards than Canada, whose carriers already have full access to U.S. highways. Hell, I might vote Republican next year if you do as you say!
“Can’t we use some common sense here? This is not some enemy satellite on our border,” said Mississippi Republican Sen. Trent Lott, adding that some critics want to make Mexico the “bogeyman.” Good call Mr Lott, but people have their heads impacted in their anal cavities so far, they can’t hear you!
And of course, Dorkan used as propaganda, an enlarged copy of a news report on a deadly crash in Mexico involving a truck laden with ammonium nitrate. Earlier in a news conference, he acknowledged little was known about the accident. IT WAS AN A-C-C-I-D-E-N-T foolish man! Nothing more!
The truck in the accident was not headed to the U.S. and those participating in the pilot program cannot carry hazardous materials.
And of course, Jimbo de Hoffa pulled the phony “Patriot” card to rile tensions more than he has already done.
With the vote on Dorgan’s proposal falling on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Teamsters President Jim Hoffa said he could not see how any patriotic American could continue allowing Mexican trucks access to U.S. highways.
Jimmy Hoffa, you wouldn’t know patriotism if it came up and bit you on the ass, unless it presented you a union card first!
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September 10th, 2007 at 9:08
There are laws governing trucking and truckers in the United States: Traffic laws, licensing laws, vehicle safety, emissions, commercial and trade laws, and so on. If these apply to United States citizens, then they should also apply to anyone else engaged in commercial trucking. Either that, or these laws should be repealed and no longer apply to US citizen truckers either.
Can’t have it both ways, SORRY!
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September 10th, 2007 at 9:15
Calderon, I suggest you read the documents available on this program. Every single rule, every chickenshit regulation that we have had crammed down our throats are going to be enforced double on these guys.
They are not getting a free pass at anything nor are they be exempted from any requirement in the Green Book.
And I agree with you. There are a lot of laws on the books that need to be repealed, starting with HOS. I think all of us are responsible enough to know when our body tells us enough is enough.
But you’re fears are unjustified. I imagine state DOT officers are salivating to get their hands on these guys which gives them extra incentive to make certain their ducks are alway in a row and marching in lockstep.
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September 11th, 2007 at 3:29
Here we go again.
and I quote you here also….”"Every single rule, every chickenshit regulation that we have had crammed down our throats are going to be enforced double on these guys.”"
Who said that?
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September 11th, 2007 at 3:32
oops, I think you’re having trouble with your site, so I had to REPOST the whole thing.
feel free to mess with, and change anything you want that I said above as you have illegaly done to me already.
Here we go again.
and I quote you here also….”"Every single rule, every chickenshit regulation that we have had crammed down our throats are going to be enforced double on these guys.”"
Who said that? question mark
where is the fact to back up THIS statement chavez? question mark
Also, you THINKING we are all responsible enough to know when “”enough is enough”"
… Look at the tired driver accidents happening DAILY here. Early on, I had slept, or same as, behind the wheel countless times. woke up not knowing where, or even what state I was in. woke up parked, thinking I was driving, and not remember taveling sometimes great stretches, or even hundreds of miles. I think every truck driver has caught themselves over doing it.
some die, some get a chance to learn from their mistakes. thats how you learn your limit, and know when to stop.
How can the HOS be inforced double on them, when the fmcsa has our dot officers so screwed up and confused that they dont even know what the law is most times.
If THEY dont know, how can mexicans possibly know? question mark.
and PLEASE, for once….back up your answers with facts, and not some incoherent babbling from the FMCSA.
Im off to find more discrepancies in your little comunist site here.
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September 11th, 2007 at 7:26
Sorry to disappoint you fellow. My site is fine, even better as a matter of fact since I’ve had all your comments put in a moderation hold until I get a chance to preview them. My choice and nothing illegal about it at all, including editing your comments to take out the personal attacks and other crap you continue to try an post. If you can’t carry on a civil debate, then you are not welcome here.
My response to what? Don’t tell me you agree with all the bullshit rules the government has forced on us over the years?
1. Dicking around with hours of service when it wasn’t broke and when they came up with rules that actually seem to have caused a reduction in accidents, Public Citizen and other successfully sue because they don’t like us working more than what THEY think we should?
2. 1992 forcing the CDL on us with the idea it would spawn a more safe and professional driving force when in reality, we lost a good portion of experienced drivers and opened the door for anyone who could pass the test.
3. Mandatory Drug and Alcohol testing? Since this was started, the failure rate has stayed steady at between 5 and 10% (don’t have the numbers handy at the moment) while the party boys continue to slide under the radar.
4. Federal Background checks to for a haz mat endorsement without a grandfather clause for the majority of us who have hauled it all of our careers. No exceptions.
5. Federal Background checks if you want to haul into an airport or seaport. The exact same check as you undergo for the haz mat, but the haz mat background check doesn’t count. All about money wouldn’t you say.
And on the horizon…….
6. EOBR for all trucks. Public Citizen will not rest until this is crammed down out throats and nobody is protesting as they did for the Mexican Pilot Program
7. Speed Limiters on all trucks….. No one seems to care about that…
8. Weight restriction that could put some of us off the road and in the unemployment line
Should I continue? All these things to me, are a bit more important than a few Mexcian trucks in this country.
But you talk about driving tired. Been there done that and experienced all the scenarios you described until I got smart and realized it wasn’t worth it.
And as for the Mexicans, it is called personal responsibility. They know they the penalty if they screw up, drive tired and cause an accident. They lose their license for 10 years. That is fact and part of their transport law. They do the above and kill someone, their ass is in prison for a minimum of 3 years before the case is reviewed by a judge and punishment decided.
Our government has decided that we are not capable of showing “personal responsibility” and perhaps they are right. The daily accidents you read about seem to point in this direction. And these accidents involve American english speaking drivers.!
Now, what else do you want to bitch about?
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September 11th, 2007 at 8:09
Trailero,
Seems to me that the cases you cite suggest that the laws should be tightened EVEN FURTHER, not reversed and/or repealed.
Look, cost of doing business, like haz mat or other checks, is something that EVERYONE who wants to engage in that kind of business has to pay. You might think it’s not cost-effective for you to submit that paperwork. But guess what, the next guy DOES consider it cost-effective to pay the costs of submitting that same paperwork.
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September 11th, 2007 at 9:04
No, my point concerning haz mat endorsements was the idea that those of us who have transported haz mat all our life should be grandfathered in. What is it in the mind of the government. That all of a sudden, we are all security risks? And why the need for a separate but redundant background check to enter a port for those of us who have paid the fee for the background check for haz mat? Seems like a money maker to me using “national security” as the excuse.
And to each his own whether he thinks it is cost effective. I have always had the endorsement from the day it was required, but now, as the time comes closer to renew it under the new rules, I am seriously considering dropping it. Nowadays, I rarely if ever have use for it.
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September 11th, 2007 at 9:41
If you have no use for it, then it is simply a liability and you should drop it. But as far as grandfathering goes, if you were indeed qualified and no security risk THEN, then there should be no impediment whatsoever to qualifying and demonstrating you are no security risk NOW. Seems ridiculous to whine and complain about it.
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September 11th, 2007 at 9:52
Not whining nor complaining about it at all. Just voicing the concerns of thousands of others who have been inconvenienced by the process.
And as far as worrying about passing a background check, no worries there. It is simply the idea that many of us who have spent our entire careers in this industry suddenly need to become vetted.
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