Congress deals blow to trade with reversal on Mexican trucks Does the 110th Congress believe it must honor the nation’s treaty obligations? Apparently not. The House voted 395-18 Tuesday to close the southern border to Mexican long-haul trucks, effectively reneging on the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement’s promise to give Mexican truckers full access to U.S. highways. The legislation, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., would end a demonstration program launched last year to show that Mexican trucks could safely navigate U.S. roads. It’s just the latest of many attempts to erase this treaty obligation. Congressional Democrats, at ….Read More
12/09/2008
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04/09/2008
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The massive fraud visited upon the American public by the Teamsters and OOIDA concerning the Mexican Cross Border Pilot Program continues to make the news as more mainstream newspapers see through the campaign of misinformation and xenophobic pablum these two organizations have put forth. Since they do not have facts to back their position, they have chosen to prey upon the ignorance and fears of Americans with stories of chaos and disaster waiting to hit America’s highways. Of course, as we have seen over the past year, it hasn’t happened, and in Mexico, highway safety concerning big rigs is much ….Read More
Aug 312008
31/08/2008
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When Congress reconvenes in September, it may break San Antonio’s economic development heart. A bill is pending a House vote that aims to end the U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking pilot program that started a year ago — a program that has its roots in San Antonio. The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously July 31 on a resolution that would end the test program on its one-year anniversary on Sept. 6. If the House and the Senate approve the resolution in one form or another, President Bush is expected to veto it unless it’s included in a larger measure. ….Read More
18/05/2008
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“Allowing Mexican truckers and long-haul rigs on highways throughout the United States – absent the rigorous inspections and safety and training standards for U.S. trucks and truck drivers – is dangerous to the public,” Surra said in a written statement.
09/04/2008
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When it comes to the Mexican Cross Border truck program, everyone seems to be trying to get on the bandwagon or use the issue to boost their rankings. It doesn’t seem to matter if they get their facts right. To the contrary, most think it is cute to pass along the misinformation that has been generated by the Unions, self styled “drivers association” who back pedal and double step away from the real issues confronting truckers today. The Mexican truck issue is a non issue. So, it seems we have yet another one popping up out there in the blogosphere, ….Read More
19/03/2008
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OOIDA’ executive vice president Todd Spencer, continues to try and convince the public, the Courts and Congress that the companies participating in the Cross Border Demonstration Project re using the same trucks as the border shuttle fleet or drayage operators. He insinuates this fleet is ill maintained, worn out junk rigs that have no place on US highways. But of course, he’s wrong as we’ve proved time and again on this site. CANACAR, the Mexican equivalent of the ATA, with about 150 member carriers is working to change this perception and encourage member carriers to upgrade their drayage equipment Whether ….Read More
Mar 192008
19/03/2008
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Mexican trucks, especially the participants in the Cross Border Program, despite what the anti-Mexican crowd would like you to believe, are not the ones trying to smuggle drugs and people into the U.S. And interesting week in Laredo with the seizure of street drugs valued at $3.2 million dollars. A five-day span during which Customs and Border Protection officials in Laredo seized more than $3 million of narcotics illustrates the different techniques drug cartels will use to ensure their operations are successful, CBP officials said.From Wednesday through Sunday, commercial buses, footwear and non-commercial vehicles were used by men and women ….Read More
17/03/2008
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Pro-Miles Software has released what is says is the first online routing application targeted at the Hispanic driver segment of our industry at millasdecamion.com. Statistics from the US Department of Labor indicate that Hispanic drivers make up almost 20% of the workforce, making Hispanics the largest minority in the US long haul driver demographic. The projected driver shortage, combined with the continued push to allow more Mexican based companies to operate beyond the 25 mile commercial zones indicate that this percentage will continue to grow in the future. “We believe having the ability to view the driving directions in Spanish ….Read More
19/02/2008
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FMCSA’s SAFESTAT database gives a comprehensive look at inspection results of all motor carriers authorized to operate in the United States. We decided to take a look and see how the Mexican carriers enrolled in the cross border program were doing to date, and the results showed no surprises. To the contrary, it appears enforcement and oversight of these carriers, their drivers and equipment, is rigid and happening as promised by FMCSA. Currently, there are 15 Mexican motor carriers enrolled in the program with a total of 54 trucks on the road and an equal number of drivers more or ….Read More