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As early as this weekend, Labor Day weekend, the Bush administration could open the U.S. roadways to Mexican trucks. The Teamsters Union and three public-interest groups: The Sierra Club, Public Citizen and Environmental Law Foundation, asked a federal court yesterday for an emergency injunction to prohibit Mexican trucks on the roads.The union has fought for 13 years to stop Mexican trucks from entering into the U.S., a promise given by Bill Clinton under the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. They argue that the introduction of these trucks would compromise highway safety and cost U.S. jobs.
Hector Marquez, head of the Mexican Economic Ministry's Trade and NAFTA Office, disagrees. "It's very unfortunate because certainly the governments of Mexico and the United States have put forth a tremendous effort to put in place all the requirements, all the mechanisms, all the personnel and the resources to make this work and to guarantee the security and safety," the Houston Chronicle reported today. The Transportation Department's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration dismissed the suit as "without merit."
Rolando Ortega, a delegate from the National Confederation of Mexican Carriers, doesn't believe Mexican truckers want to travel into the United States.
"We don't want to go to the United States, and the Americans don't want to go to Mexico... It doesn't reflect the reality of the transportation industry," he told the Chronicle. He said that most Mexican trucking companies that deliver to the U.S. already struggle with high insurance rates, longer lines at the border and a lack of credit. Ortega added that most Mexican truckers cannot read signs in English, are unfamiliar with the U.S. highway system and lack the knowledge to find cargo for a return trip to Mexico.
"The only companies that want to do that are the trans-national companies and the companies that move their own cargo," Oscar Garza, another delegate of the Mexican carriers, told the Chronicle.
The launch awaits certification from the Transportation Department's inspector general.
"The only companies that want to do that are the trans-national companies and the companies that move their own cargo," Oscar Garza, another delegate of the Mexican carriers, told the Chronicle.
The launch awaits certification from the Transportation Department's inspector general.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-30-2007 @ 6:23PM
Dan Barnett said...
Most auto insurance in the USA does not carry over into Mexico. Assuming the reverse, how would significant cross-national trucking be handled?
8-30-2007 @ 6:15PM
Bob Hagy said...
I would like to see Bush go to mexico and stop trying to be pres of the usa he has failed in all his 7 years , or to china,heseem to like all other county except usa.
8-30-2007 @ 6:29PM
johnkirklin said...
We should do away with the border patrol, border inspection patrol and let all come in. Look at how much money the government could save in all those wages. Just let everyone come across.
Like they aren't doing that anyway. Just look at all those Americono Bus lines there are hundreds everyday traveling across all the borders. Oh, I guess you haven't noticed but they are already driving trucks all over this country from mexico. They say that there are 12 to 15 million mexicans here. I think its double maybe quadruple that estimate.
8-30-2007 @ 8:11PM
Scott Kinsella said...
My family have been involved in the truck resale market for nearly fourty years. During that time, I've been able to see just how Deregulation wiped out companies that have been stabily around for a very long time. This will be like a second Deregulation all over again all the while the trucking industry is at a twenty year low. Just how many companies and jobs does the Government want to see gone. I gues it can foot the bill while all these drivers and other company employees go on unemployment and aid programs. Not to mention the tax dollars these companies and people would have contibuted into the system. It will steamrool into a far felt effect. Every thing touches a truck at least six times from raw material to the end user. Opening a pandora box I say
8-30-2007 @ 9:14PM
peterhailey said...
Foreign Truckers often do not have insurance, they do not undergo the intensive safety scrunty our truckers undergo. They do not have to license or register thier vehicles in the USA which means they pay no road use taxes, they themselves do not have American drivers licenses, if they cannot read english it is a sure bet they cannot read english road signs.
9-01-2007 @ 12:52AM
wayne said...
The comment about Foreign Truckers is completely off base. Foreign trucking companies pay all the taxes and permits, just like US companies pay taxes and permits to drive in Canada. I don't speak French, but I still drive in Quebec, Reading road signs doesn't require that much. http://lifeontheroad.com
10-05-2007 @ 2:02PM
Diane said...
Well, first of all we do not need any more citizens, we barely have enough jobs as it is, why not just raise the poverty level another 10 notches while you are at it. Second of all I have heard tales from cross country truckers of hit and runs as well as vehicular homicides caused by mexican drivers who are uninsured in America and driving well over the speed limits or coming the wrong way up a one way because they cannot read our signs - guess what, the Police were told to LEave Them Alone!! No Consequence!! WTF???. Third of all if you read the article above THEY DON"T WANT TO COME HERE. Though this wouldn't be the first time Bush hasn't listened to a damn thing the PEOPLE have to say. Fourth and Finally- Those who come over aren't leaving, or those who come over are filling their trucks with friends who will not leave. Funny, everyone want's tp pay less for wages but costs keep going up. I'm afraid to see what this country will look like when my son is an adult. We already export everything because it's cheaper, now we want to give jobs to non-citizens because it's cheaper? How does that make sense? It doesn't matter HOW CHEAP products are due to labor if we DON'T HAVE JOBS TO MAKE MONEY TO BUY THEM! Lock the borders back up, LOCK THEM ALL, WE ARE AT CAPACITY! As a Final Unrelated note- STOP THE STARVING FOREIGN CHILDREN FUNDS - WE HAVE our own starving, homeless children as well as Veterans who have lost their family and world/lives who need the $.10 on a dollar those scams are actually giving those kids. Wake Up PEOPLE!!
11-25-2007 @ 9:26PM
Jim said...
I have been in the trucking industry for 12 yrs, and from what I have seen I think it is a very bad idea to let them come over here. Not only will they be a safety hazard, but it will make our borders that much or unsecured. After 9-11 national security was such a big issue. Why is our politicians letting that all go out the window for big business bottom line dollar. Ive also heard alot about a trucker shortage here in the U.S. Well I can tell the public it doesnt exist. Look at the companies that pay there employees well union and non union, guess what they have all the drivers they want. Then look at companies like Swift, Celadon etc. and the list goes on. They pay horrible wages and treat people very bad and cant get drivers. Ive got an idea for the driver shortage, Pay Them people work for money. Then there wouldnt be a shortage. They need to reword the driver shortage to driver shortage thats not stupid enough to work for Swift wages. Thats the real reason they want to open the borders is nothing more then Cheap Labor!