OOIDA and the great lies!

Let me clarify something here. In retrospect, perhaps I titled this post in the wrong manner. But when I read the assertions of Todd Spencer and others, who insist on provoking this issue, and insisting that they are the experts on the subject, I can only come to one or two conclusions. They either have not bothered to read all the documents and facts available before commenting are they are deliberately lying to further their agenda, whatever that may be. Because in the end folks, 145 trucks, entering the country from a dozen POE's from Texas to California, can in no way wreak the havoc and chaos the opponents would have you believe. Nor, once the border is fully opened, will there be a deluge of Mexican trucks entering the country. Each and every truck and fleet will be required to pass all the requirements the Pilot Program participants have passed. And even then, the Mexican carriers will not ignore nor abandon the Mexican market to put their fleets to work in the U.S. And regarding Mexican Truck drivers coming to work in the U.S. for American fleets, there has never been a prohibition against that. They have always been allowed under the same work visas as the companies use to import East Europeans, Aussies and Kiwi's. All the company has to do is demonstrate that there is not enough available workers for the jobs available and this qualifies them to import the workers. This has not happened where the Mexican drivers are concerned and I see no reason for it to start. It is a non-issue as far as I am concerned. But folks, let's keep the debate going and I have succeeded if this site gets a few of you thinking and questioning what is being said instead of taking it at face value. One of my role models in life has always been George Carlin and I remember him saying one time, "Question Authority" and we can throw a quote in from Ronald Reagan which is significant in this debate. "Trust but verify"! I think the verification process is coming along nicely!

Good questions William that I will attempt to answer although neither have absolute answers. 1. Current U.S. HOS are not being enforced in Mexico nor in Canada for good reason. They are U.S. regulations. Mexico, as a sovereign country apparently decided the stupidity of a law that really could not be enforced. Instead, drivers are held accountable for their actions with far more severe penalties than they would face in the U.S. I think I've covered this elsewhere in other posts. I think all of us would be much better off without HOS rules or HOS rules more flexible than they are now so we could get the rest we need when we need it. Not when some safety advocacy group decrees it. So no. The Mexican drivers would not adhere to U.S. HOS rules when they returned to Mexico just like Canadian drivers revert to Canadian HOS rules when they return to their home countries. And Canadian HOS rules give the driver much more flexibility than the ones we have. I've run into Canada quite a bit over the past few years and when in Canada, I would continue to log under U.S. HOS rules, 1. because I was in and out in a day or so, and 2. the U.S. rules are more restrictive and therefore comply with Canada's more liberal policy. However, when a Canadian driver enters the U.S., for the exact reason as I pointed out, he must start logging under U.S. HOS rules. So as you wrote your question, it is safe to assume the Mexican driver will adhere to U.S. HOS only in the United States. But as I also pointed out in another post, analyzing the PASA results from FMCSA, it is apparent that most if not all the Mexican carriers applying for authority are domiciled in places like Reynosa, Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Cd. Juarez, Nogales, Mexicali and the Tijuana are. As such, I believe these companies will hold the drivers who have clearance to cross the border and travel in the U.S., for only that purpose. And if not, the border is not a 24/7 operation. So if they arrive at night or close to closing, then they have all night to rest. 2. I am not certain you are correct there. There is no provision in the Mexican Pilot Program to allow passengers on the vehicle. The driver with clearance to enter the U.S. will be required to have a Mexican Passport, and or a B1/B2 Laser Visa. The laser gets him across the border, but to go beyond the 20 mile commercial zone, he will need an I-94 Record of Entry and Exit. This would hold true for family members who might accompany him. One of the faults of our system regarding entry for Mexican citizens is the hoops they have to jump through, all the t's that have to be dotted and the i's that have to be crossed to get a B1/B2 laser visa just to cross the border to shop. And in the end, after all this has been done, the fees paid and forms submitted, all requirements met, they can go for the interview and be denied the visa without cause. It could be the staff officer had a fight with his wife that morning or he doesn't like the persons looks. Denied and that's it! No appeal! You can start the process over in six months with no guarantees. A Mexican, with a Visa to enter this country WILL RETURN TO MEXICO! There has never been a doubt about that and it is proven hundreds of thousands of times a day along the southern border. And a Mexican trucker whose home and family is in Mexico will return. Because considering that most blue collar jobs in Mexico only pay the equivalent of $75-100 per week, a Mexican trucker earning even $.18 per mile is moderately wealthy. He has no reason to stay in the U.S. You mention the 12 million illegals in the country and of this number, probably 7 million give or take a dozen are Mexicans. And Mexicans are the subject here. These are the poorest, least educated for the most part, from southern states like Chiapas and Nyarit, where there are very few jobs. When you're hungry, you have a family to feed, you do what you have to do. And I guarantee you every one of us would do the same under similiar circumstances. We cannot group the illegals with the Mexican truckers and Mexican tourists who enter this country to vacation, deliver a load and return, with the illegal Mexican population of this country. Were the rules relaxed and the attitude of the U.S. State Department to change (currently, they believe that any Mexican applying for a visa has no intention of returning to Mexico), more people contemplating entering this country illegally, might try the legal route first. But the opposite is happening. Fees for Visas, Green Card (the two are totally different) and other forms of immigration papers are tripling, further putting legal access out of reach of some Mexican people, even the middle class of Mexico. Tell you what William. I don't boast, only state the facts about Mexico. Much has changed in the 19 years since you traveled here. You would be astounded. I would not live in a place such as the Mexico depicted by all the detractors and others who only have anecdotal evidence to form opinions on.

I would like to pose the following questions. 1:With the current Hos regulations of the US not being enforced in Mexico, how can it be proven that anyones logbook is valid?Are we to assume that these drivers will adhere to our HOS regulations even when in Mexico?An American trucker is responsible to present the last seven days and is held accountable for any violations found. 2:These drivers would currently be allowed to have their family travel with them.This is a good wat to spend time with your family.Time that I will admit is at a premium in most drivers lives.However there is currently no system in place to verify that all family members returned to mexico.How would this be addressed? I am happy you found a nice place to live in Neuvo Laredo,but as evidenced by the over 12 million illegal immigrants in this country obviously many parts of Mexico are still less desirable to live in.I myself have not traveled there since about 1986 and do hope that there is the improvement you boast of.

We all use screen names, as do you my friend, that is not the issue. If you want to know who I am, I am listed on http://lifeontheroad.com as one of the site authors, which is the only venue that pays me for my opinions, and my opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Lifeontheroad.com I don't claim to be a reporter, only a trucker like you wish you could be. As such, I am presenting the other side of the argument, with facts to counter the spin, deliberate misinformation and total lunacy of the opponents of this measure. This site is neither left wing nor right nor do I care to make it a political statement. I simpy present the truth. And since people like you cannot see past your menial little lives where you need to feel superior to everyone else, my efforts are lost on your kind. Because in your world John and the world of those like you, The FMCSA is a liar, despite the facts they present from onsite inspections and the rules that have been put in place to control this project. The CVSA also must be lying because all the inspectors participating in this PASA, were FMCSA CVSA certified inspectors. And I imagine you think the OIG is lying because he has signed off on many of the elements of the program while sending other parts back to be corrected. Everyone is a liar except you and your fellow members of OOIDA. Is that the way it is John? Is it inconceivable to you that Mexican buses are permitted and are running established routes in the U.S. with zero accidents and that the Mexican buses are for superior to anything Greyhound has on the road? Can't imagine that can you? How about the airlines? Mexicana and others who fly into U.S. airports? Ever heard of crashes involving a Mexican air carrier in the U.S.? Mexican air carriers have excellent safety records. Then why in the hell would anyone think the ground transportation industry would be any different? It defies logic, and don't give me any bullshit about the 25 mile commercial zone! Those trucks have nothing to do with the issue. Perhaps it's time to look beyond the peoples color, get your head out of your collective asses and start thinking for yourself instead of taking what you are told by OOIDA, Steve Sommers and some of the other idiots who don't have a clue about Mexico, as the gospel. Have a wonderful weekend Kupkake! Rev. Porter M. Corn Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Mexico!

You hide behind some screen name, Why? Any real reporters put their real name on what they write. Like I said, you have a finical interest in this besides getting paid to write bull! Your replys really show your phony ego. This is about a political issue that you wrote about with half azz facts, not if you have a pool or not!

QUOTE; Keep in mind though, that only 34 companies have been qualified to operate in the United States. 157 trucks and an equal number of drivers. You can bet these people will be under the microscope in all manners possible. QUOTE. Yea, Like prove that! Where do they go? YES QUALIFIED TO GO 25 MILES OVER THE BORDER! WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS, $$$? Your in this just for more money in your pocket. Tell us, just what do you do besides bullshit! I guess you were not in that random small group of mexican drivers that a reporter interviewed, and they told what the real story was. I quess the dime bag business iss good. Yes, your a goody goody with your 157 others. Give it up dude!

Now it's your turn Mr. Honest John. It is apparent that you don't bother to read the replies I make to your comments nor to any of the information presented on this site. So once again, I will attempt to answer your questions in a manner that your limited education and sub par intellect can comprehend. [quote[Yea, Like prove that! Where do they go? YES QUALIFIED TO GO 25 MILES OVER THE BORDER! WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS, $$$? Your in this just for more money in your pocket. Tell us, just what do you do besides bullshit![/quote] Ok, I can prove that. First off, since you are obviously mentally challenged, here is a chart from FMCSA which was published in the Federal Register, as required by law, on June 8, 2007, explaining how Mexican law and American law are parallel and acceptable as written under the Pilot Truck Program rules. You can read it here. http://mexicotrucker.com/?page_id=363 That is one of everyones complaints that Mexican laws are not as strict as U.S. laws. What do I do? I have been a truck driver just like you wish you could be for the past 32 years. I have held a CDL since 6/8/92, one of the first ones issued in my former state of residence when the program was passed. I have been an owner operator for about a third of that time, an assistant ops manager for a company formerly affiliated with Arkansas Best Freight, involved in Safety and have almost 3,000,000 miles driven without a chargeable accident nor a major violation on my driving record. I am also a paid contributor to a new website funded by a major truck manufacturer called Life on the Road, http://www.lifeontheroad.com But I earn my money the old fashioned way, busting my butt 3500 miles or more every week. Oh, and by the way, I am an ordained, non practicing minister. Does that answer your questions in a manner you can understand. I also have little tolerance for bigots, idiots and imbeciles who think they are better than the next man simply because their skin is white, they speak english and perhaps are better off financially than the little man. I also destest liars! And concerning your comment about the article Charles Bowden wrote under contract with the Teamsters Union, that article has long been suspect in many peoples minds. People that is with an open mind and the ability to think for themselves and not needing others to tell them what to think. And it is more suspect the more I think about it. For beginners, the author was told what Jimmy Jr. wanted, a propaganda piece and that is what was written. I have my doubts if he ever crossed the border to write it because much of what he says concerning location don't exist. Secondly, a Mexican, be it a trucker or a civilian, is naturally suspicious and is not going to sit down and open up with the kind of crap Bowden wrote. It is as simple as that. Even if did sit down with these "drivers" I imagine they said what they were paid to say. It's a good article, for a piece of fiction, but that is all it is. Fiction bought and paid for. I've said once and the offer is still on the table. Anyone who is in Laredo and wants to spend an afternoon in Nuevo Laredo and see for themselves that what is written on this website is the truth, I'll be more than happy to play host to them. Except perhaps, yourself, as I doubt you could see beyond your own narrow vision of things. Oh, and by the way. Mexico Trucker is fully supported out of pocket by me. I accept no money nor have I been offered any and I intend for it to remain that way.

Thanks again for the well thought our comment Gantec. I am only relying on the data the FMCSA provides to the public and verifying it from personal experience in country during my frequent travels down here. I take nothing for granted nor at face value. What got me started on this crusade, if you want to call it that, was no great desire to see the Mexican trucks in the United States. To the contrary, I could care less whether they or the Canadians ever entered the country. But a couple of years ago, I was doing the overnight thing, as I prefer to drive at night, listening to the fools on XM 173 bad mouthing Mexico and I kept asking myself, "where is this Mexico, because I'll be damned if I've seen it" and I've lived here for more than 10 years. And what started as a nightly rebuttal to all the crap spewing from the Trucking Bozo's mouth and later his son, Steve, became what you see here. And as I sit here writing this, I am on my patio next to the pool at my home in Nuevo Laredo, connected by WI-FI to a hub which has 24mps throughput. Now in a third world poverty stricken barely developed country that the "experts" would have you believe Mexico is, would this be possible. The bottom line to all this is, that the border will be opened. Once the pilot program is over, it will most likely be fully opened to any carrier which can meet the qualifications. We will not see a flood of Mexican carriers in this country. Hell, the proof to that is in the number who applied for the Pilot Program and were accepted. 33 carriers with 155 trucks. Because in the end, Mexican carriers will access the U.S. as their needs dictate in the same manner U.S. carriers will operate in Mexico. Both countries have a dynamic and prospering transportation industry. Look at the Mexican bus lines which have been allowed to operate in the U.S. under NAFTA for the past 5 years. There is no competition to Grayhound. As a matter of fact, Greyhound is partnered with a Mexican bus company, TURIMEX. Nor has there been any Mexican buses involved in fatal crashes to my knowledge. And Mexico has one of the best intercity transit systems in the world. But again, I appreciate your comments and you are always welcome to participate in the discussions.

It is interesting that you note that many of these arguments were around at the time of the opening of the Canadian border. The FMCSA clearly knows, then, what concerns the American public has with these programs, and with the systems currently in place regarding U.S. drivers, and yet none of these issues have been resolved. Just because there won’t be carnage on the highways doesn’t mean that the bureaucratic infrastructure shouldn’t be repaired and improved before increasing its burden. I don’t believe that most opponents are alarmed about the quality of the pilot program participants. Whether there are four or 4,000 they will be the cream of the crop precisely because they will be under the microscope of public scrutiny during the pilot. The problem lies with the fact that the systems to ensure the safety of the program for the long term will still not be in place at the end of the pilot period. Those systems must be developed first in order to accurately assess their effectiveness and any changes that might be required. I am glad to hear that you believe so strongly in the integrity of this program. Please forgive me, however, for not being able to take your good name and reputation as concrete evidence. I wish I could, but that would mean relying on the FMCSA to finally start dealing with the issues it already faces, and that have been neglected for decades.

Another excellent well thought out reply. Nothing is perfect and many of these same arguments were used by the opponents of opening the northern border to the Canadians. And now, many years later, the dire predictions made, have not come to pass. Keep in mind though, that only 34 companies have been qualified to operate in the United States. 157 trucks and an equal number of drivers. You can bet these people will be under the microscope in all manners possible. And these drivers will be the ones to teach what they've learned to the drivers of tomorrow that will be coming and going. As I've said before, just as I am an advocate for allowing these trucks into the country, this site will also be monitoring their progress and will not hesitate to forward verified reports submitted here to the proper authorities and will also hold their feet to the fire to resolve the issues. I've put my good name and reputation on the line advocating this issue, based on personal observations during my travels in Mexico, where I am as I write this, and I'll continue to report the good and the bad. But I appreciate the literate well thought out comment you've left and you're welcome here anytime.

Whether or not the requirements for the two licenses are the same, US officials will have a difficult time verifying the credential. Background checks, drug tests, and driving history will be equally difficult to verify. I have yet to see where the FMCSA has really lined any of this out. Hours of Service is a similar matter. Your argument that common sense can be used to ensure that already tired drivers are not entering the U.S. from Mexico doesn’t wash. The same idea could be used to justify the illogical belief that all drivers entering from Mexico have falsified their HOS record. Common sense, and blind trust, cannot be used to ensure anything, and the safety of American roads should be the first interest of the FMCSA. It is ludicrous to think that accidents, violations, and missed court dates will be in “the system” to be caught by ICE agents at the next border crossing. The system you refer to simply does not exist! Violations do not always get reported to the proper agencies. Charges often get misinterpreted between different states, let alone different countries. If all of that does happen properly, then we have count on the right driver being checked by an alert enforcement official. Before this program is even tested, a real system should be in place to verify these things. A true pilot program would exist to test those systems, so why have a pilot program when there are no systems in place to test? Your argument regarding cabotage is also flawed. Although the rules may be quite clear, enforcement efforts in this area is seriously lacking already. That most certainly needs to be addressed long before opening the border. Adding drivers to the already over-crowded American market will serve to depress wages and rates even further. Clearly the FMCSA needs to turn its attention inward, towards fixing its current problems, long before opening the border. 143 trucks seems like an insignificant number, but its not the number of trucks that has everyone upset. Opening the doors to a pilot program that isn’t really testing anything is what’s upsetting. It opens the door for a larger scale implementation of the untested program in the future with no proven checks in place to control it. 149,000 members may be a drop in the bucket, but that number represents some of the most vocal members of the industry Judging simply by the fact that you are responding to their message, they are being heard.

For one thing gentlemen, I am a white American citizen who chooses to live in Mexico where the society and people there are not judgmental and are very tolerant. I am also a trucker with 32 years over the road, accident free experience. You Mr. Kupke, if you would bother to read the progress reports published by FMCSA, you would see that everything has been checked and double checked on the Mexican drivers who will be participating in this program. And Mr Kupke, Beans and Cabrito (baby goat) is a delicious delicacy here. You might try it sometime. Honest John, you will find no lies on this site nor will you find deliberate campaigns of misinformation. Only facts and the truth displayed in documents and photographs. The Mexican line haul trucks are no different than their counterparts in the U.S. Average age of line haul fleets is 3 years. The FMCSA south of the border inspections have proven Mexican trucks meet the same standards as American trucks. Mexico is a member of CVSA and adopted and adhere to CVSA inspection standards. I agree. Stop 10 Mexican line haul trucks. Give them a level 1 inspection. I would bet none would be shut down. Stop 10 border shuttle trucks who go through Texas DPS inspection stations several times a day. Give them all a Level 1. Perhaps one might have an OOS violation. Give all 20 a drug test. I guarantee 20 will pass. Despite what OOIDA, the Teamsters and fools like Stevie and Dale Sommers would have you believe, the Mexican driver is no different from any of us or our Canadian counterparts. Get your facts straight before you start your name calling. However it is the mark of a bigot and xenophobe to resort to name calling when they don't have facts in their corner to back up their assertions. Gentleman, have a wonderful day and thanks for your comments.

OOIDA is not lying here.... YOU ARE! What are sniffing the same magic dust your mexican truckers are sniffing? Or do you sell it to them? Is your hand in the cookie jar? Why else would you right an article bashing an organization that looks out for safety of Americans and the best interest for Owner Operators without checking your facts! Or is this a cry out because you cannot meet the American stanards? I say stop the first 10 Mexican trucks right-now. Run them thru the same DOT inspections American Truckers have, and I bet 9 will be shut down! Don't forget the drug test! numb-nuts your a Wack-O! Oh--- I hope your family is not in an accident with one of your so great mexican truckers! They probably dis-owned you anyway!

I don't appreciate your attitude towards OOIDA. We don't need or want you n your types up here killing people. Nothing has been checked or can be verified on these bean n goat eater truck driver you sleep with down there. Stay on your own side of the river .