Mexican trucks could roll again as soon as June

Mexican trucks could roll again as soon as June

Posted on May 21, 2009 in Cross Border Program, Headlines, NAFTA by PMC Comments Off

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the United States could reopen its roads to Mexican trucks as soon as next month,

Speaking at a luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, LaHood said that Mexico’s levying of billions in tariff’s in response to Congress’ decision to bar the vehicles has put a huge burden on American producers,

LaHood said he will bring up the issue to Congress after lawmakers return from next week’s recess.

Congratulations to Secretary LaHood for looking beyond all the lies and bullshit that has been put before Congress and seeing that the Mexican trucks are not much different from ours. It took time, but in the end, the truth wins.

This was confirmed by Mark Reddig and Rod Knobswabber of OOIDA on this afternoon’s LandlineNow program. Although both were sputtering and stuttering in perhaps feigned indignation and ignorance, they confirmed it and concluded with a call for their members to call their representatives once again and whine, cry, shout that they must not change their positions. I imagine though, the sitting members of Congress are becoming tired of this, and won’t listen, especially as it seems the perfectly legal tariff’s are beginning to have an economic impact on their constituents. No longer is this an issue that they can gloss over and ignore.

J Todd Spencer, a member of the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee also was quoted as saying some conditions would apply.

• A more “foolproof” program. (whatever the hell that means)
• Stirct Safeguards. (I don’t see have they can get more anal or strict than they were in the original program)
• Requiring EOBR’s in all program participants.  (another way to slip black boxes into all trucks)
• GPS units to track mileage and cabotage violations. (making assumptions without evidence. This needs to be required of the Canadians also)
• Higher Standards in Mexico ie: CDL Standards (already stricter than ours in the US) Drug Testing (Already required as a condition to obtain a Mexican CDL) Etc. Same old bullshit that Spencer refuses to acknowledge already exists.

The latter, I would question as a violation of Mexico’s sovereignty. All we need to be concerned with is that the Mexican trucks and drivers comply with our laws, when they cross our border. In the 18 months of the previous program, this compliance was demonstrated consistantly.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

J Todd Spencer, Executive Vice President of OOIDA wears two hats. First in his role at OOIDA, he has been at the forefront of the misinformation campaign to derail  the program. Long ago, we proved that it had nothing to do with safety as he and opponents claimed, but something more foul and nefarious.

Now, Spencer also sits on the committee tasked with making recommendations to the FMCSA for a new Cross Border Program. How can there be objectivity?

On, and does Spencer really have the best interests of the American trucker in mind? Reading the minutes of the May 18 meeting of the MCSAC, some surprising and disturbing information was revealed.

Here is some of the things that Spencer participated in and may be in our future. As you read these, keep this phrase in mind. “RADAR DETECTORS”

First item on MCSAC recommendations to the FMCSA:

Add “Distracted Driving” to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
Documented research shows that there are cognitive distractions and increases in
crashes from cellular phone use and text messaging. Therefore, the committee
recommends that FMCSA initiate rulemaking to ban the use of hand-held and hands-
free cellular phones and text messaging.

There go your cell phones boys and girls! Want more? How about losing your CB’s and GPS’s among other tools.

Study on distracted driving, focusing on what causes distracted driving, including but not
limited to factors such as Citizen’s Band (CB) radio use, navigation device use, and
cruise control on commercial motor vehicles.

Mr. Spencer concurred with both of these recommendations as well as others. You can read the full article here

But for now, we celebrate the return of common sense to the debate and this time, I think the opponents will be howling at the moon.

Tags: LaHood, Mexican trucks