Mexico Trucker Online

"Senator Obama will stand with the Teamsters and do as I tell him to do when it comes to fighting against those mean MExican trucks," General President Jim Hoffa said

It was no surprise when FMCSA Administrator John Hill extended the Mexican Cross Border Program for another two years, thus beating the opposition at their own game.

You see, FMCSA has been calling it a “demonstration program” while the opposition called it a “pilot program” which operates under different requirements, requirements that FMCSA has met.

So John Hill, using the oppositions definition of the program, extends it to 3 years as is permitted for a “pilot program”, and Jimmy Hoffa is furious!

I’m mad as hell about it, but I’m not surprised. - Jimmy Hoffa -

What is Jimmy “mad as hell about? That all the money that has found it’s way into the hip pockets of his politicians hasn’t yielded the intended results? Maybe.

I think Jimmy is further pissed because Mexican law forbids him and his union from organizing in that country. Canada allows it and we don’t hear any objections from him about Canadian trucks.

But all Jimmy can holler about is the safety of Mexican trucks despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Most Americans think this is a terrible idea. That’s why the Bush administration first tried to sneak the pilot program into existence last year. It was only after the Teamsters outed the administration that officials admitted they really were opening the border to dangerous trucks from Mexico.

The reality is, most American’s could care less about the Mexican truck issue. At least from the evidence that I have seen and the conversations I have had around the US.. The Bush administration did not try to “sneak” anything into existance. The news conference was well publicized and covered by the media. Little Jimmy and his gang of thugs “outed” nobody. They did and continue to this day to publish false accusations that are without merit and totally contrary to facts in existance.

This is another of Hoffa’s inconsequential mutterings which are not grounded in fact.

The program’s unpopularity is also why the Bush administration announced a few days ago that the border would stay open for two more years. Announcing bad news in August, when most people aren’t paying much attention, is an age-old trick in Washington.

The programs unpopulairty with Hoffa and others such as Todd SP\pencer of OOIDA has no bearing on why the program was extended. According to FMCSA, it was to collect more reliable statistics and give participants time to recoup their investment in the program.

To me, it seems that 11 months into the program, with no major violations of safety and no accidents, that this shows that Mexican carriers are quite able to operate safely on our highways and follow our rules. To think ohterwise is really asinine.

But Hoffa goes on with his continuing assault on the truth.

Congress had already passed one law closing the border to these trucks, which don’t meet the same safety standards as U.S. trucks.

But the Bush administration simply ignores the law. That’s why Congress is in the process of passing more legislation to stop the lawbreaking.

The Mexican trucks do meet the same safety standards as our trucks. Although built in Mexico as our trucks are, many are bought from dealers on this side of the border. This is one of Jimbos most common lies.

Bush has not ignored any law concerning the program and the legislation Hoffa mentions is simply more smioke and mirrors being put up by his bought and paid for politicians. Prove me wrong! You can’t!

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., chairman of the House Highways subcommittee, one of Hoffa’s buddies, issued a blistering statement after he found out the Bush administration planned to keep the border open.

“This administration has been hell-bent on opening up our border but over the past year has failed to show they can adequately inspect Mexican carriers while also maintaining a robust U.S. safety inspection program, There is no reason to believe these problems will be addressed over the next two years. The safety of the traveling public must come first – before the administration’s fantasies about free trade.”

Now tell me if I am wrong, but those are the same sentiments practically word for word that have been spewing from Hoffa’s vile little pie hole for so many years,

Prove to me they can’t inspect the trucks. Seems to me, looking at the stats, that the addition of 100 or so Mexican trucks entering our country through designated commercial crossings, each identified with a unique DOT number showing their participation in the program, and being required to cross a State Commercial vehicle inspection facility, doesn’t put much of a strain on our inspectors, when you consider the more than 3 million US and Canadian trucks on the highway.

But here we come to the cusp of the matter. Has it occurred to anyone why this program has been allowed to continue for 11 months, unimpeded for the most part by the critics and those opposed to the program? Could it have something to do with the coming election and everyones certainty that the next President will be a Democrat? Is it any coincidence that the sudden flurry of legislation from Senator Byron Dorgan and the House of Representatives comes this late in the year when it is certain that any legislation will not become efrfective until a new President takes office?

Republican Sen. John McCain didn’t voice any outrage. He strongly supports opening the border to unsafe Mexican trucks. Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, pledged to the Teamsters that he will close the border if he’s elected.

Another one of Hoffa’s misconceptionabout both Senator McCain and Barak Obama. And speaking of Obama, why is he making a pledge he cannot keep? Gotta love the politicians and the union bosses who control them.

But, in Hoffa’s clueless commentary which was published in The Detroit News on August 8, 2008, he continues to misrepresent the facts.

We have laws here in the United States that require certain safety standards to be met before the border can be opened.

Border inspectors must be able to make sure Mexican drivers speak English.
Hoffa’s idea of speaking English is with the competency of an English lit major

Inspectors must also be able to check every Mexican truck every time it crosses the border.
Again, Hoffa and his thugs expect every Mexican truck including drayge to be given a Level I inspection each time they cross the border, a ridiculous assumption and a spin on FMCSA claim that they do in fact insect every truck in some manner when it crosses.

Mexican drivers must be tested for drugs and alcohol according to U.S. standards.
Again, Hoffa ignores the fact that drug testing is mandatory in Mexico as a condition of obtaining licensing and that the drug testing for the MExican drivers participating in the Cross Border Program have all been done in American labs. A small ommission since it doesn’t jive with his propaganda

Mexican trucks must be as safe as U.S. trucks.
Again, facts that Hoffa and others choose to ignore is that Mexican trucks, both those doing drayge operations on the border and those operating under the Cross Border Program are turning in safety stats much better than American carriers. Enough said

So where will this Pilot Program go and what will happen? I imagine Congress will pass HR-6630 but will the President sign it as a standalone bill? Doubtful. Enough votes in Congress to override a veto? Maybe, maybe not!

But then what? The law is passed and becomes law? What then? Either FMCSA files suit or some of the participants file a lawsuit and seek injunctive relief until the case is heard, and the Cross Border Program marches on. All the time disproving the claims of the opposition that these trucks and these drivers are dangerous and unsafe and

It means making sure our families here in Michigan and throughout the rest of the country don’t have to dodge 90,000-pound unguided missiles from Mexico on our highway

90,000 pound unguided missles! Boy, is Hoffa out of touch with the industry he extorts dues from. And especially in Michigan where the GVW is well in access of 100,000 pounds.

Without regard to how 9th Circuit eventually rules, the losing side will apply for a hearing before the full Court, seeking an injunction which may or may not be granted, depending on who applies.

And the trucks will keep rolling racking up more and more safety statistics that will make it difficult for Congress or the American Public to except the rantings of this insignificant little man and his band of thugs.

Hoffa’s refusal to accept the facts of the program is inexcusable. The presence of Mexican trucks in the United States will have no effect on his shrinking membership one way or the other.

Remember, you heard it here first, on the site that has been validated and vindicated for my facts and opinions many times.

Our recent polling seems to support my opinions and observations expressed here.

 Loading ...

 Loading ...