Mexico Trucker Online Articles

A major win for OOIDA and Truckers as US 7th Court of Appeals tosses EOBR mandate

An opinion by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in response to a lawsuit filed by the Owner Operators Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) against the mandate for Electronic Onboard Recorders (EOBR’s) has effectively vacated the regulation for now based on the argument of “driver harassment” and sent it back to the FMCSA for reconsideration and a possible rewrite.

This is a major victory for US truckers who have fought against the implementation of this regulation. However, the fight continues as two Senators, Lamar Alexander and David Prior have a bill pending before Congress which would make this requirement law.

“It’s a fantastic decision,” OOIDA President Jim Johnston said. “The decision dealt with the issue of harassment of drivers, but the court left room to come back and challenge other aspects if the agency gets overly enthusiastic about how they want to monitor truckers.”

OOIDA had presented three arguments as to why the regulation should be set aside, but Circuit Judge Diane Wood, stated that the court “need address only the first issue” of driver harassment.

Judge Wood’s opinion stated; “that if an agency “fails to consider a factor mandated by its organic statues, this omission is alone ‘sufficient to establish an arbitrary-and-capricious decision requiring vacatur of the rule.”

You can read more about the ruling at LANDLINEMAG.

This is what OOIDA was established to do and they have our full support in their endeavors such as this. Wasting time and money fighting the Mexican cross border program, a cause the United States is morally and legally obligated to comply with is not only a waste of resources by OOIDA but does severe damage to their credibility as an association supporting truckers because of the methods they have employed in the past and continue to use.

But congratulations to all who was responsible for this win. It gives all of us a little extra breathing room from the nanny regs that FMCSA seems determined to shove down our throats.

Opposition to cross border program less than expected, but just as nasty

Friday, the FMCSA RELEASED CROSS-BORDER TRUCKING PILOT DETAILS and the reaction was basically “so what’s new?” except amongst the usual suspects who object to anything concerning Mexico.

OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer released his usual whining rant making baseless allegations they’ve never been able to document nor prove

ATA President Bill Graves issued a statement in support of the proposal.

James P. Hoffa, President of the Teamsters Union who is usual first out of the box with his sophomoric rants about “unsafe” Mexican trucks and “unqualified” Mexican drivers, was suspiciously absent, however, the website, TEAMSTERS NATION chimed in with their instructions, showing they haven’t got a clue and are pushing fear mongering to achieve their agenda.

Their instructions to whoever reads their blog:

Write down this number: FMCSA-2011-0097

It’s the docket number for the Transportation Department’s official proposal to open the border to trucks coming from the war zone known as Mexico.

The proposal will be published in the Federal Register on Monday, if the government doesn’t shut down. You have 30 days to tell them why this is the stupidest fucking idea EVER. We’ll let you know on Monday (if the government isn’t shut down) how to send in your comments. But you’ll have to include the docket number.

Here’s one suggestion, just to get you going: Hundreds of border officials are being investigated for corruption. According to NBC News………………………

Start drafting those comments now! The government has to respond to every single one, so let’s keep ‘em busy until the next millennium!

How silly and comical is that suggestion? But it gets better.

This morning, they published instruction on How to stop Mexican trucks

Here’s what they are telling their members:

Tomorrow, you must get out your ink pen and write to the government to say, “DO NOT open the border to Mexican trucks.”

Do it tomorrow. Do it the next day, and the next. Do it every day for 30 days.

Here’s why: The federal government must post an official notice in the Federal Register in order to open the border to Mexican trucks. The public has 30 days to submit comments. The government must read every single comment and respond to it before the border can be opened.

Let’s send them so many letters they’ll be retired by the time they can respond. The letters don’t have to be long. They just have to give a reason for keeping the border closed. Click here if you need a reason.

They go on to give a sample letter for their members to write that has absolutely nothing to do with Mexican trucks or truckers. This is the sample they provide:

FMCSA-2011-0097
April 11, 2011

Dear Sir:
An an American citizen, I am horrified by FMCSA’s plan to open the border to Mexican trucks. Giving violent drug cartels more access to American highways is harmful to American interests. Mexico is in a state of war. Nearly 35,000 people have been murdered in drug violence in that country since 2007. Ciudad Juarez, which is right across the border from El Paso, is the most dangerous city in the world.
Sincerely,
Name
Address

So please people. If you oppose having the United States comply with our legal obligations to allow Mexican trucking companies access to the United States, then by all means, follow the instructions of TEAMSTERS NATION to the letter. Put down you crayons, pick up a big boy/girl pen and send your letter as instructed. (Don’t forget to stay inside the lines kiddies)

AND WHEN YOU’RE FINISHED, YOU’VE WASTED YOUR TIME!

Think I’m joking? Lets backtrack to 2007 when comments were opened concerning the past Cross Border Program which was defunded by union cronies in Congress.

TEAMSTERS NATION is correct that FMCSA must read every comment submitted and take them into consideration at the end of the comment period. They DO NOT have to respond to the comments individually, only in a general manner in the Federal Register.

In 2007, comments coming into FMCSA concerning 2007-28055 where ridiculous, sophomoric and moronic. Out of almost 2500, only a handful contained valid reasons for or against commencement of the Cross Border Program.

As FMCSA wrote in the Federal Register after the comment period had ended, “All comments were accepted and studied an duly noted that few offered any valid reason to suspend the program” [paraphrased]

You can read some of the examples I used here, or you can Google 2007-28055 and read all of them at the source.

BITS AND PIECES

Our favorite OOIDA/TEAMSTER is back in action at Congress.org, this time with an even more moronic letter directed at President Obama. Here’s some highlights complete with misspellings.

Since that time, we have been subjected to a clash of cultures that is anything but positive as I have tried to point out in previous letters titled The Downside of Cheap Labor. In those reports, I spoke of the tendency of illegal migrants to partake of higher than normal bouts of drunken driving, drag racing drunk, murders and sexual crimes; the latter committed against women as well as children as young as eight months. And now in addition to this, we the people of this nation, thanks to you sir, will be exposed to drunken Mexicans driving substandard trucking rigs on our highways because you have an axe to grind with the people of this nation………………

As for Mexican truck drivers, Pres. George W. Bush had the sense to initiate a trial period during which Mexican trucks were allowed in our country, but restricted to an area no more than twenty-five miles north of our southern border. It was during this trial period that it was determined that Mexican trucks and their drivers are unfit for our highways………………….

We have to believe this because U.S. citizens cannot enter Mexico by just walking across our common border. No sir. Getting caught in Mexico without a Visa is a felon. Illegal migrants are not welcome in Mexico………..

But what trucker in his right mind would want to enter Mexico to subject themselves to murderers, beheadings, thieves and Montezuma’s revenge? ……………………..

e. Sir, even if you were sincere, and sincerety is not one of you hallmarks, we don’t have the manpower to thoroughly check each and every Mexican truck and its driver entering this nation bringing drugs, illegal migrants and a clash of cultures into our country………………………..

Mexican truckers will not be required to carry liability insurance, keep their trucks in top running order or pay high road taxes to pay for their wear and tear on our highways, as must our truckers……………………….

Somebody is going to die at the hands of Mexican truckers because they do not know the rules of the road, drive drunk the wrong way on one way streets and highways. A tiny little girl was recently killed by one of those drunken Mexican truckers. Keep Mexican truckers off our streets and highways. They are already congested with the three million new migrants–legal and illegal–that enter our nation each year. Just keep taking trips in Air Force to invite everyone on this continent to “y’all come. Amnesty and jobs await you . . . yadah yadah yadah.” The insanity must stop!!!!!! Please do us a favor and wihdraw your name from the 2012 election? We need a break………………………………………

Yeah, Todd and Jimbo are probably really proud of this clueless moron in Fredericktown Ohio.

TRUCKING TALKERS AND OTHER LOONY TOONS

Admittedly, I fell asleep from boredom Friday and Saturday night listening to ATN and Bubba Bo who seemed to have problems keeping his phone lines full so we can only imagine what was said. The usual without a doubt.

Steve Sommers, on ATN last taking his first opportunity to break the news since it’s release, was his typical sardonic, sarcastic self, maintaining the OOIDA party line concerning Mexican trucks, referring to the proposal as “comical” and his Buddy Hackett soundalike, Warren, aka “Sugar Bear” coming on throughly pisses and ready to stick pencils in his ass to dull the pain. And has anyone heard Sommers latest spiel for OOIDA where he incredulously revealed that “FMCAS is going to open our borders to Mexican Trucks!! Really!!! You can’t make this stuff up!” Had me laughing my ass off and bouncing lane to lane.

Dave Nemo, this morning to his credit, finally admitted the the excuses about safety, security and all the rest were a sham. His main focus is on supposed job losses. I have a lot of respect for Dave, who along with Evan Lockridge are about the only two talkers on trucking radio worth listening to. But Nemo really needs to look at the numbers to realize his fears are groundless.

The proposal is scheduled to be published int he Federal Register Wednesday, April 13, 2011 with comment accepted through May 13, 2011 unless the opposition whines their way into an extension as they did back in 2007. Comments can be made at REGULATIONS.GOV and you will need the Docket Number which is FMCSA-2011-0097.

We’ll be monitoring the comments as we did in 2007 and share some of the more whacked out ones with you.

OOIDA members use racist extremist websites to oppose Mexican trucks

After President Obama and Mexican President Calderon announced Thursday a working agreement on allowing Mexican trucks access to American highways after almost 20 years of the US violating it’s obligation under NAFTA, the airwaves and internet are alive with renewed debate as talkers and opposition groups feed on the unfounded paranoia of the American trucker.

Eric (Bubba Bo)Boulanger  hosts the weekend slot on America’s Trucking Network (ATN) heard on  700WLW and XM 152 allowed the usual callers to make veiled threats of violence and destruction of the Mexican trucks and their drivers as he fielded calls on the subject of Mexican trucks. And he didn’t stop those that would use demeaning names for the Mexicans such as “jalapenos” or “beaners”, giving the callers his tacit approval.

Perhaps the most disturbing discovery is some of these “patriotic” American truckers turning to the extremist right wing racist websites to get their message out and enlist the help of the “turd reichers” and knuckle dragging racists.

I refer to a thread on the white nationalist website STORMFRONT. Stormfront was the first major hate site on the Internet. Claiming more than 130,000 registered members,
the site has been a very popular online forum for white nationalists and other racial extremists.

I say an OOIDA member or perhaps staff at OOIDA is turning to this despicable collection of racists in an attempt to derail the new Mexican truck program. A member by the handle of TRUCKIN and who joined the site in February of 2011, heavily promotes OOIDA as the all encompassing solution to keeping those damned Mexicans out of the US. And he has a very receptive audience.

Stormfront, where you’ll find such titillating tidbits as “Beating down a mud [a non-white person] when they try to poisen [sic] one of our own or when they try to seduce one of our girls may not be God inspired, but rather a righteous act of collective preservation.” is a place where this OOIDA message seems to be readily accepted and acted upon.

OOIDA members also appear to be taking their message to the right wing extremist Mexican hate site ALIPAC, who made the list of the SPLC’s Year in Hate and Extremism 2010 Where Stormfront opposes African Americans, Jews and anyone not of caucasian ancestry, ALIPAC is just the opposite. Their focus is on Mexican bashing and demonization of all Hispanics, who they seem to consider to all be illegal.

ALIPAC, the majority of whom are elderly and retired, perfect targets for President William Gheen to scam donations from to support his lifestyle also have a smattering of members who heavily promote OOIDA as the end all solution.

Here’s an example of ALIPAC and their suggestions:

Make a seperate lane for those trucks. Before they enter go over them with a fine tooth comb. Strip it down. Sure its gonna take time but then its their gas. (Mod Edit.) Let them know what is in store.

The mod edit was “then burn them to the ground making sure the wetbacks watch and “………

And if there is any doubt about OOIDA or it’s members aligning with the White Nationalists to push their agenda of opposing Mexican trucks, here’s another post by the same person.

That’s enough to make any self respecting trucker to cut up their OOIDA card and mail it back to them.

Isabel Garcia of Coalicion de Derechos Humanos responds

Isabel Garcia Co-Chair of Coalicion de Derechos Humanos

As there has been much made about the recent protest in Tucson against Sheriff Joe Arpaio, we would like to share a statement that our Co-Chair Isabel Garcia sent to media outlets in response

Good afternoon, and thank you for allowing me to respond in writing, as I am presently out of town.

As you know, Derechos Humanos, along with 6-7 community groups, called for a protest of Joe Arpaio’s appearance at his book signing at the Barnes and Noble. Because of Maricopa Sheriff’s Arpaio’s outrageous police actions in the communities of Phoenix, as well as his political views surrounding the immigration issues in general, many of us in Tucson have made a promise that we will not allow him to come into our town without him hearing from those of us who stand in support of the thousands of workers and their families who have borne the brunt of his narrow-minded, ignorant policies. That he would come to Tucson to promote a book filled with lies, fear, and ignorant perspectives about immigrants, was especially appalling to us.
Read more

Truth 104.1 and Jon Justice – Hate Radio for the stupid people

Jon Justice – Talk Show host on the Truth 104.1 FM

The latest wave of sick and perverted hatred from the nativists who seem to control elements of talk radio comes in the form of Jon Justice a wannabe talk show host on 104.1 The Truth, an FM talk station in Tucson Arizona.

It began with a rally against Maricopa County Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio stepped up enforcement of Federal Immigration laws while ignoring the real crime occurring in his jusrisdiction.

The protestors, with Isabel Garcia of Coalition of Human Rights Arizona in attendance, beat an effigy of Sheriff Joe. Ms Garcia was videotaped picking up the head of the pinata a carrying it aloft through the crowd. For this, the right wing neo cons and nativists have begun a campaign of slander to have her disbarred as an attorney in Arizona and a member of the Public Defenders Office. I guess the right of Free Speech only works one way.

Who is this Isabel Garcia?

Read more

Sirius-XM Merger finally approved

Federal regulators formally approved the merger of the nation’s only two satellite radio operators Friday, ending a 16-month-long drama closely watched by Washington and Wall Street.

Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.’s $3.3 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. will mean 18 million-plus subscribers will be able to receive programming from both services. Executives say it will mean huge cost savings that will lead to a first-ever profit for the relatively nascent industry.

The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to approve the buyout, with the tie-breaking vote coming Friday night from Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate.

Tate had insisted that the companies settle charges that they violated FCC rules before she would approve the deal. The companies agreed this week to pay $19.7 million to the U.S. Treasury for violations related to radio receivers and ground-based signal repeaters.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin confirmed the final 3-2 vote Friday night.

Having been a subscriber from practically day one, I am looking forward to the new programming choices.

“Channel 19″ Trucking Radio Network with Bubba Bo

Boy howdy! It never ceases to amaze me the stupidity of people in a position to help others who insist on pushing their xenophobic agenda for their own satisfaction.

We’re sitting in Gulfport Mississippi this evening, bored and listening to Eric “Bubba Bo” Boulanger on the what Bubba Bo refers to as “Channel 19 Trucking Radio”, aptly named for all the bullshit Bubba Bo has been spewing the past few nights.

“Channel 19 Trucking Radio” formerly known as America’s Trucking Network is an overnight talk show aimed at truckers, which allows a handful of regular callers to come on air each night and tell the hosts how great they are. They can be heard on SiriusXm Channel 166 from midnight to 0500 7 days a week from their home stations, 700WLW in Cincinnati Ohio.

Take this evening for instance. He tries to guide the show discreetly onto the Mexican truck issue by telling his handful of listeners, incorrectly, that the program has been in effect for 18 months with little participation.

But people like Bubba Bo, cannot stand to have their opinions challenged with the fact, and when his error is pointed out, instead of responding in a civil and decent manner, Bubba Bo, responds with name calling and more evidence of his ignorance and stupidity of the facts.
Read more

Right Wing looney tunes subverting the minds of America’s youth

You hear it every night on late night talk shows such as Rollye James and Art Bell and George Noory and it’s expected that some losers actually believe the talk about North American Unions, Superhighways to benefit Mexico and China and the like, and each time I hear these claims, I shake my head in pity at the people who don’t have the wherewithal to think for themselves.

But then I come across a website such as In Freedoms Cause, and it angers me to think that this bullshit is poisoning the minds of this nations youth.

The author of this blog, a 16 year old named Daniel Berkompas who describes himself as a 16 yr. old Reformed Presbyterian living in the good ol’ rainforests of southwest Washington. Beautiful country, Washington State, good people and a lot of free thinkers.

Danny has taken on the issue of the fictional North American Union and the Security and Prosperity Partnership, and for a seemingly intelligent young man, has taken the stance of the conspiracy theorists and nativists who oppose this fictional union.

Some points the young man makes:

Open Borders. They want trade to be able to flow smoothly and easily through the borders, without any more impediments than they can help. For this purpose, they have implemented a “trusted traveler” program, where Mexican trucking companies can register themselves as “trusted” and thereby simply cross the border, no questions asked. No checks, no stops, just breeze straight across the border.

The Trusted Traveler Program is generally recognized as a program where frequent fliers on US airlines can pay a fee and submit to a complete background check in order to obtain credentials to use expedited TSA lanes at US airports. It has nothing to do with Mexican trucks, Mexican truck drivers nor does it allow said drivers to breeze right through Customs without stopping or checks.

Perhaps he was thinking of another program under the US Governments “Trusted Traveler” programs, called SENTRI or Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection Well, SENTRI has nothing to do with Mexican trucks either. It permits travelers returning from Mexico or Mexican citizens access to a special inspection lane which uses a transponder to identify them prior to their reaching the inspectors.

Wait a minute. Danny must have been thinking about FAST, or FREE AND SECURE TRADE. This enables truck drivers from all three countries to apply for the clearance, pay a fee and receives an intensive background check in order to obtain credentials to enter the US from Mexico or from Canada and vice versa. Truckers cannot enter at will and avoid inspections. Ah, the frivolity of youth and public school education.

Danny goes on to make a second incorrect assumption:

# North American ID. In order to make it easy for Mexican truckers to travel throughout America, they advocate either an ID that would be recognized by all 3 nations, or equal status for all national ID’s.

Guess what Danny, they already exist and have for as long as I’ve been alive and they have nothing to do with Mexican truckers specifically. They are called PASSPORTS The US has them and they are accepted worldwide. Canada also has them as does Mexico. Mexican truckers are required to have them, in addition to a B1/B2 visa stamp, for which they undergo a background investigation including criminal check, before the visa stamp is issued. In addition, Mexican truckers or tourists are required to obtain from the US Department of State, an I-94 entry/exit document. Canada is exempt from both of these requirements.

The third point little Danny makes is this:

# Unified Trade Code. When you have a bunch of foreign trucks coming through, you need to have universal highway code that applies to them. After all, if there is an accident, would you judge the incident by American or Mexican law? The resulting unified trade code would trump U.S. law, making us subject to a form of international law.

Who has heard of a Unified Trade Code? Another example of the lunacy going on in the mind of Jerome Corsi to sell his books? And why does Danny mention trade when he is referring to highway laws and regulations? Of course, Danny probably hasn’t completed driver ed yet, if they still offer it in public schools in the US, but traffic laws generally are the same anywhere you go in the world. But let’s concentrate on Mexico as opposed to the US.

In Mexico, the national speed limit on Federal highways is 110 kilometers per hour. In the US, it varies from 65 to 80 mph. In Mexico, you never make a right turn on a red light. In the US, it is permissable. Stop means STOP, ALTO means STOP. The signs are the same. When a foreign national, in this case a Mexican, is operating a motor vehicle within the confines of the United States, he is bound by the laws of the State and the County or Municipality he is operating in. HE is bound as we all are by the laws of the State, County, City and Federal Government. No special treatment.

The same as when I am home in Monterrey or transiting between the border and Monterrey. I am bound by all traffic and criminal laws and statutes of the States and Cities I travel through. My Mexican auto insurance covers me in the event of an accident the same as a Mexican driver’s US insurance would cover him. Is that such a difficult concept to master?

And finally, Danny makes an absurd comment about the supposed NAFTA superhighway:

# Superhighways. They also endorse the building of massive superhighways, such as the Trans-Texas corridor, which would facilitate open border travel throughout all the way from Mexico to Canada, and the ability to get off anywhere in between.

Guess what? We already have highways that transit the US from the Mexican border to Canada. I-5 corridor. The I-35 corridor, I-15, to name a few. At some point in our lifetime, we will see a Trans Texas Corridor or whatever you want to call it. Our interstates are aging and some date back to the administration of Dwight Eisenhower. The country is growing and the infrastructure needs to grow with it. And one can imagine that when the great cross country interstates were being built, there were similar outcries against them. And where would we be today without them.

A Superhighway, Trans Texas Corridor, NAFTA superhighway, whatever tag you put on it, will eventually alleviate traffic congestion and expedite travel of all types. Maybe not in my lifetime, but it will happen.

But yeah, it saddens and angers me that the youth of today, tomorrows leaders are exposed to this type of crap in their formulative years. And after having heard Jerome Corsi spew his propagando numerous times on Rollye James and America’s Trucking Network, and occasionally reading his articles on World Net Daily, he is definitely not the type of role model these kids should follow.
Thank God 16 year olds do not have the right to vote.