OOIDA whines before the press conference.

OOIDA whines before the press conference.

Posted on Oct 17, 2007 in News & Views by PMC Comments Off

Prior to the news conference in Washington with Secretary’s Peters, and Tellez, OOIDA was already on the attack with their peculiar and obnoxious brand of whining.

Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) took exception to the inspection demonstration before it took place, saying that “even Harry Potter fans would not be amazed with the illusion created by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Today’s press event attempts to demonstrate the safety of trucks participating in the Mexican cross-border pilot program.”

That’s the idea Spencer. That is why it is called a demonstration or a dog and pony show or whatever handle you want to hang onto it. However, the “demonstration” is intended to show that the Mexican trucks allowed into the program are as safe or more safe than the American counterparts. This is a fact you seem to want to gloss over or ignore. But one cannot ignore the facts.

And it continues. OOIDA says;

Truckers are not impressed, nor should the American public be, OOIDA continued in a news release from its headquarters in Grain Valley, Mo., issued just one hour before the demonstration took place

Todd, are you a “seer” or something? To have arrived at this illogical conclusion of yours ONE HOUR before the event took place? Impossible!! But guess what. The majority of truckers could give a rat’s ass about the Mexican trucks. I base this conclusion on listening to conversations on the road and the mostly lack of discussion of the subject. 91% of 330 people responding to polls do not represent a majority viewpoint.

The association contends the DOT still has not shown how they will effectively deal with safety and security issues. These include thorough background checks and drug testing, as well as enforcement of regulatory issues such as Hours of Service and cabotage, not just at the border, but especially as Mexico-domiciled trucks operate throughout the United States.

The above is not an exaggeration but an out and out lie by Mr Spencer. Document on file with the FMCSA and published in the Federal Register shows extensively, how the program deals with safety and security issues.

American drivers are not required to undergo background investigations unless they apply for an endorsement to their licenses to haul hazardous materials. The Mexican drivers are required to pass two background checks. One when they apply for their Licencia Federal de Conductor, and again, when they apply for their BB1/B2 Visa and I-94 Entry/Exit visa, something Canadian drivers are not required to have.

They are drug tested as a condition of receiving the Mexican equivalent of a CDL and subject to random tests, with and without cause on the side of the road, the work place are any time a Federal Officer deems it necessary.

This is just more distortion of the facts this pseudo drivers organization engages in to use fear to push their agenda. Not to mention taking the membership fees from the drivers who fall for their snakeoil roadshows.

Tags: FMCSA, misinformation campaigns, OOIDA, Todd Spencer