Court: Mexican Trucks Can Drive In U.S.


(AP) The Bush administration can go ahead with a pilot program to allow as many as 100 Mexican trucking companies to freely haul their cargo anywhere within the U.S. for the next year, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request made by the Teamsters union, the Sierra Club and the nonprofit Public Citizen to halt the program.

The trucking program is scheduled to begin on Thursday (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/01/national/main3227439.shtml).

In court papers filed earlier this week, the Teamsters and Sierra Club argued there won't be enough oversight of the drivers coming into the U.S. from Mexico.


:rant:

:bombout:

COOL! just in time for harvest season.

Two problems with Mexican truckers driving in the U.S..

Problem # 1...........their trucks are not inspected and are often sub standard as far as safety is concerned. Look for accidents to be caused by unsafe Mexican trucks.

Problem # 2..........The majority of the drivers neither speak nor read English. They will have a difficult time navigating and following road safety direction signs. Again, look for accidents to be caused by Mexican truck drivers.

Court: Mexican Trucks Can Drive In U.S.


(AP) The Bush administration can go ahead with a pilot program to allow as many as 100 Mexican trucking companies to freely haul their cargo anywhere within the U.S. for the next year, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

:rant:

:bombout:

Ok.

You Rightwingers finally have something where you can rightfully blame Bill Clinton for having made the situation FUBAR.

THIS is the one.

Clinton is the sob who signed the despicable *NAFTA* law into effect.

You want to know how BAD this political initiative was (and is) for this country?

It is the first and only time I can EVER recall Rush Limbaugh being in total agreement with something Bill Clinton was doing.

THAT ought to tell you how anti-worker, anti-populist and anti-human the law was and is.

Two problems with Mexican truckers driving in the U.S..

Problem # 1...........their trucks are not inspected and are often sub standard as far as safety is concerned. Look for accidents to be caused by unsafe Mexican trucks.

From the article:

"In court filings this week, government lawyers said the program is an important interim step in fulfilling the United States' obligations under NAFTA, and that Mexican trucking companies would have to meet the same regulations governing U.S. trucking companies, and in some cases the requirements are stricter.


Problem # 2..........The majority of the drivers neither speak nor read English. They will have a difficult time navigating and following road safety direction signs. Again, look for accidents to be caused by Mexican truck drivers.

Also from the article:

"The government says it has imposed rigorous safety protocols in the program, including drug and alcohol testing for drivers done by U.S. companies. In addition, law enforcement officials have stepped up nationwide enforcement of a law that's been on the books since the 1970s requiring interstate truck and bus drivers to have a basic understanding of written and spoken English."

Why could Mex trucks not drive in the US before now ?

From the article:

"In court filings this week, government lawyers said the program is an important interim step in fulfilling the United States' obligations under NAFTA, and that Mexican trucking companies would have to meet the same regulations governing U.S. trucking companies, and in some cases the requirements are stricter.



Also from the article:

"The government says it has imposed rigorous safety protocols in the program, including drug and alcohol testing for drivers done by U.S. companies. In addition, law enforcement officials have stepped up nationwide enforcement of a law that's been on the books since the 1970s requiring interstate truck and bus drivers to have a basic understanding of written and spoken English."

At present, U.S. trucks are inspected by the states, occasionally. There are not enough inspectors to do the job, properly. Now the states will be asking for even more money, to hire a few more inspectors.
When trucks are inspected, a fair number of them are put out of service, due to safety issues, usually related to brakes and/or tires. The addition of Mexican trucks will only increase inspection problems, and increase the risk of serious accidents.

you all know that they will be walking away from the truck as soon as they find out that the guys hanging out at Home Depot make more a day than they do in a month.:rolleyes:

i'm not worried about their driving ability or keeping their truck operable. if you'd seen Mexican roads, you wouldn't either. American Highways are a cake walk compared to a two lane mountain road, where you either adjust your brakes or you go home in a box.

what i AM worried about is abandoned trucks filling up truck stops and drivers passing out because they can't afford to eat...and snow.

There was some complaining in Europe about trucking recently,the standard and safety of Eastern trucks was/is not up to scratch in some cases.In the UK especially theres a big crackdown on them when they arrive off the boats from Holland and France.

Why could Mex trucks not drive in the US before now ?
mostly work visa issues. Canadian and American drivers still can only move international freight across the border, not interstate, or inter-provincial.-as i recall.

mostly work visa issues. Canadian and American drivers still can only move international freight across the border, not interstate, or inter-provincial.-as i recall.
The Mex trucking co's involved in the target test have already been approved by the DOT, and have passed the safety requirements. Currently, the CVSA safety inspections are conducted by the respective crossing states' highway patrol, and display license plates of that state. California also requires the trucks have EEC, and pass AQMD standards. Something the state wont require from domestic trucks for another 5 years.

The border pass drivers are qualified by US standards, and the trucks are in better shape than the some of the domestic junk I see on the road every day. The teamsters bitched because they have it in their mind that this ruling will take jobs away from their membership (and money from organized crime). The Sierra Club has their heads shoved so far up their asses they couldnt see daylight if the sun was crammed up there with them.

Mikey, youre right about one thing. There aint no money in it. The delays clearing IT's and TE's through customs is already a problem, and that part is only going to get worse. You wont find the trucks parked at the truck stops, you'll find them abandoned at customs.

what i AM worried about is abandoned trucks filling up truck stops and drivers passing out because they can't afford to eat...and snow.

Mikey, youre right about one thing. There aint no money in it. The delays clearing IT's and TE's through customs is already a problem, and that part is only going to get worse. You wont find the trucks parked at the truck stops, you'll find them abandoned at customs.

There's something I would not have considered, but what a golden opportunity for them.

Again, look for accidents to be caused by Mexican truck drivers.just look at the accidents caused by American truck drivers...

just look at the accidents caused by American truck drivers...

Just look at the truck accidents caused by stoopid car drives who don't realize an 18 wheeler can't stop on a dime.

Well now, if funding for the program is lost, who's going to do the inspections, for the next year?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070912/pl_nm/usa_mexico_trucks_senate_dc_3

just look at the accidents caused by American truck drivers...
78% of truck "involved" accidents are caused by the four-wheeled vehicle.

"The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to ban Mexican trucks from hauling cargo on American highways."

http://numbersusa.com/news?ID=8770


Wonder who's going to win this fight; Congress, or the President.

Is there a bit of pretectionism going on here

Is there a bit of pretectionism going on here


Hard to say if it's protectionism, or just more partisan politics.