I spoke to Senator Gordon Smith through a radio stations program allowing Oregonians to ask your Senator a question. Senator Smith, told me we had enough trucks on the road already when I asked him if you thought allowing 190,000 Mexican trucks into the U. S. was a good idea.
In mid 2001, I shut my small trucking business down and moved to BA JA, Mexico where I lived 3-years and nine months, departing in late August 2006.
I've mailed my letter to my Senator and other elected rep's. These letters can be found at:
eqneedf - View topic - Super Highway and U.S./Mexico Cross border traffic
I use my forum as a data base and all forums are closed to the public, thereby allowing me to post links. Because of the level of my work on various issues, having written 32-books in the last 27-years, maintaining a web site, many blogs to include my forum/data base, when I post a link, it often directs the reader to my resources. Since an individual is unable to post a comment with the exception of my welcome to the forum section and a few spambots that no longer are a problem, by mere fact that I've posted a link to my forum where my letters are located, by no means solicits someone to my forum.
These are some of facts and the areas of concern I’ve come up with:
The American Trucking Research Institute has reported that trucks carry almost 68 percent of all domestic tonnage and the total tonnage requirement is expected to rise steadily. All the economic indicators seem to indicate that the trucking industry will continue to experience sustained growth over the next decade. That growth will translate directly into increased demand for truck drivers, vehicles and specialized equipment as the demand to move more and more cargo and commodities throughout the nation grows. How that increased economic activity will translate into opportunities for those that serve the needs of the trucking community is the question for many small businesses that provide essential support to the industry.
http://www.topix.net/content/prweb/3346627666095802409213921875841332760119
One Year Pilot Program
“This latest effort will implement NAFTA’s access provisions with a one-year pilot program limited to 100 Mexican Trucking companies. Mexico responded to the U.S. announcement by saying it will allow 100 U.S. carriers to travel across the border into Mexico. The DOT says the first Mexican trucks could roll into the U.S. in about 60 days (in May).
The Pilot program was announced on February 23 by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters and Mexican Secretary of Communication and Transportation Luis Téllez.
Mexican carriers operating in the U.S., according to DOT, must comply with the same safety, environmental, insurance, homeland security and other regulatory requirements that American carriers currently meet.
“Peters said the program’s objective is to simplify the current process, which requires Mexican truckers to stop and wait for U.S. trucks to arrive and transfer cargo. This process, noted Peters, wastes money, drives up the cost of goods, and leaves trucks loaded with cargo idling inside U.S. borders. She added that under current rules, U.S. trucks are not allowed into Mexico because the United States refused to implement provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement that would have permitted safe cross-border trucking.
“The United States has never shied away from opportunities to compete, to open new markets and to trade with the world,” said Peters. “Now that safety and security programs are in place, the time has come for us to move forward on this longstanding promise with Mexico.”
Of the 100 motor carriers, 70 already operate in the U.S. commercial zone – leaving 30 Mexican-domiciled carriers being considered with no experience operating on U.S. soil. “On Thursday, Feb. 22, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters announced that U.S. officials would be inspecting the Mexican motor carriers in Mexico.
Of the 100 motor carriers, 70 already operate in the U.S. commercial zone – leaving 30 Mexican-domiciled carriers being considered with no experience operating on U.S. soil.
Required operating authority for these carriers would allow transportation only of international cargo, not U.S. domestic cargo. Carriers would also need to show proof of insurance and pay all state and federal operational taxes and registration fees, according to DOT.
“Peters said the program’s objective is to simplify the current process, which requires Mexican truckers to stop and wait for U.S. trucks to arrive and transfer cargo. This process, noted Peters, wastes money, drives up the cost of goods, and leaves trucks loaded with cargo idling inside U.S. borders. She added that under current rules, U.S. trucks are not allowed into Mexico because the United States refused to implement provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement that would have permitted safe cross-border trucking.
Mexican truck companies that allowed to participate in the program will all be required to have insurance with a U.S. licensed firm and meet all U.S. safety standards. And companies that meet these standards will be allowed to make international pick up and deliveries only and will not be able to move goods from one U.S. city for delivery to another or haul hazardous materials or transport passengers.
“The United States has never shied away from opportunities to compete, to open new markets and to trade with the world,” said Peters. “Now that safety and security programs are in place, the time has come for us to move forward on this longstanding promise with Mexico.”
“Peters added that the Department of Transportation has implemented an inspection program to ensure the safe operation of Mexican trucks crossing the border. This program will have U.S. inspectors conduct in-person safety audits to make sure participating Mexican companies comply with U.S. safety regulations, which require all Mexican truck drivers to hold a valid commercial drivers license, carry proof they are medically fit, comply with all U.S. hours-of-service rules and be able to understand questions and directions in English.”
“Peters said U.S. inspection teams will visit Mexican trucking companies to ensure their trucks and drivers meet the same safety, insurance and licensing requirements that apply to all U.S. truckers. She added the inspectors will evaluate truck maintenance and driver testing for compliance with U.S. requirements.
The inspection teams also will check whether drivers have a valid commercial driver’s license, have a current medical certificate and can comply with U.S. hours-of-service rules.
The teams will review driving histories for each driver the company plans to use to operate within the U.S. and verify the company is insured by U.S.-licensed firms.
Inspection teams will verify that every U.S.-bound truck has passed a comprehensive safety inspection. Trucks lacking required documentation will be subject to a “hood to tail-lamps” inspection by the teams.
Peters told press in El Paso, TX, that in “about 60 days” when the initial safety audits are done and proof-of-insurance verified, the first Mexican trucks will begin traveling beyond the border areas.
“We are ready with modern inspection facilities (at the U.S.-Mexico border), and we have hired and trained hundreds of inspectors,” Peters said. “All told, 540 federal and state inspectors are already on the job, standing by to screen trucks coming across the border.”
Peters contends those inspections at the border will guarantee safe operation of the Mexican motor carriers, based on current experience.
“Our records show that Mexican trucks currently operating in the commercial zone are as safe as the trucks operated by companies here in the United States,” she said. “We know this because federal and state inspectors are already screening the trucks crossing into our country from Mexico.”
“They can’t confirm whether they are safe or not. The documentation doesn’t exist on driver experience, drug testing or anything else,” OOIDA President Jim Johnston said.”
OOIDA, I and others don’t have a lot of faith in those statements.
“Utilizing FMCSA data, OOIDA officials determined the agency shows there were more than 4.65 million incoming trucks to the US from Mexico in 2005. Those 4.65 million trucks represent the entire vehicle population that could be subjected to an inspection.
Simple math indicates that the inspection rate of the entire available vehicle population is 3.9 percent. To put it another way, a Mexican truck has a 96.1 percent of not being inspected at any border crossing in the country.
“Outrageous is the best way to describe the U.S. Department of Transportation’s nearly simultaneous announcements that all safety and security issues with Mexican motor carriers have been resolved, and that 100 of these trucking companies will now be given U.S. DOT’s blessing to operate throughout the United States,” said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer.”
http://www.landlinemag.com/Special_Reports/2007/Feb07/SR%2002-23-07%20More%20MX%20trucks%20by%20JJ.htm