Mexican Trucks OK'D FOR INTERSTATES
 

Heads up! Competition for loads will now extend to Mexican trucking companies, whose drivers are used to slave wages.

Here's link to The Washington Times, February 24, 2007.

I understand Mexican drivers drive days without a break thanks to meth, but that's just rumours, right? Spread by the Teamsters - Ha!

http://www.washtimes.com/business/20...0828-5481r.htm

Anybody who spots one of these rigs, what do they look like?

That is really unfortunate to read. In affect the US Government is allowing foriegn workers to compete ON US SOIL with US workers.

The next thing I expect to read about are major US trucking companies buying Mexican trucking firms or starting their own Mexican divisions and "laundering" many US loads thru their cheaper Mexican divisions operating on US soil. Simply start a LTL load in Mexico and "load er up" en route to anywhere USA at pennies on the dollar.

That is really pathetic on the part of our elected representatives...probably a result of lobbying efforts on the part of large US carriers.

What do they look like? Old Freightshakers, Peterbilts, Internationals, KW's, etc....cabovers included. All pieces of crap needing maintenance of one kind or another. And don't forget the obvious, Mexican co. name on it usually ending in "Fletes Mexico, S.A."...I know because I live on the Texas/Mexico border......

HMMMM.This kinda makes a person whom is on the verge of becoming an owner operator scratch his head...
Do you think this will drive freight rates lower than they already are?

I don't know how many even read the link the OP directed us to?
Drivers and equipment must meet safety requirements to enter the USA, whats wrong with that? Do you actually think the US will give them a different set of rules which are lower than ours?I think not! I think the US stands to make a MINT on trucks crossing the border then nailed for equipment violations. They will be forced to correct the equipment at US prices, therefore seeing fewer and fewer pieces of crap crossing the border...lol They will only be allowed to enter up to 70 miles into the USA, hell, our friends from the north can go anywhere, like we can in their country! I, I'm my opinion think people are reading to much into this whole thing. Let them come into our country 70 miles, that's 70 miles I don't have to travel to the dirty border towns...lol

Ssoutlaw:
The way I read it they already have access up to 70 miles.Soon they will be allowed on all US roads.

But they are not limited to just 70 miles.

There is no law that the Mexican government hasn't broken or bent beyond recognition. Corruption and cheating are an integral part of the culture in Mexico. There is no way that they will observe ANY of laws consistantly and there will be LITTLE enforcement from any of our agencies.

Just look at the Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean to see what happens to American agents that attempt to enforce our laws upon Mexicans.

This is the END of the United States of America.

I read that part, but I don't believe they have ever been able to go that far yet. I maybe wrong!

from the article that we didn't read

"For the time being, the rigs won't be allowed past the commercial zones. However, Transportation Department officials say the "on-site safety audits" are among the last obstacles for allowing full access to U.S. roads and that the trucks could receive final clearance to U.S. roads within the next two months"

Not true. The 70 miles refers to distances foreign trade zones are from the border. Currently, they can deliver within 35 miles of the border (usually to freight forwarders where US drivers take over) or to foreign trade zones (which can be up to 70 miles from the border.

The new ruling allows them to be anywhere - as long as their freight originates in - or is destined to - Mexico.

We can only hope that the DOT will do their job and keep them safe and in line with current US requirements & regulations. They say only 3.9 % of the trucks will be inspected coming in to United States, and no way of knowing how long a Mexican driver has been driving for, or if he has a record, or if he is on drugs.

You can also go to Land-Line magazine online and read the special report bulletins about this Terrible decision.

This is a lot different than a US worker saying off shore companies are "stealing jobs"...those are goods made in foriegn lands at their labor standards and being shipped to the US.

Here we have a foriegn worker coming into the US and working in our markets at a labor rate that is foriegn derived. How is that different than a hospital having a Mexican doctor come in (at his wages) and doing surgery in a US operating room? It will save the hospital lots of money but steals a job directly from a US worker on our own soil!!

Totally different from foriegn competion for manufactured goods.

Well said! US law strictly prohibits Foreigners from working in America.... unless they acquire an H1B visa to do a job that was properly advertised and no American applied. Doing a job Americans don't want to do? I think not!

NAFTA MUST BE REPEALED ( At Least the Mexican Part!)

The larger fleets (the ones that will be asking for operating authority) run new equipment like Volvo, Kenworth, Freightliner, International, even Scania. Many of them use satellite tracking. The older trucks everyone sees on the border are the old trucks that local cartage firms use to shuttle trailers back and forth. No more beat up than your average local truck in New York City or Chicago. The trucking companies aren't going to put brand new trucks on that kind of sit and wait duty, that would be a waste of equipment.

You seldom see those newer trucks on this side of the border because the trailers are handed off to the local POS shuttle trucks. If you take a road trip into Mexico, for every delapidated Kenworth W900 with a 36" sleeper box you see smoking down the road you'll see a brand new Volvo VNL430 or Kenworth T600 Aerocab humming down the highway.

The average age of a Mexican fleet truck is a few years older than those in the US because Mexican firms buy the trucks outright. The corporate leases that the large US companies use for trucks that they keep for 2-3 years don't exist south of the border.

Of course there are carriers in Mexico who care more about profits than safety, but as we are well aware, there are plenty of fleets operating on this side of the border who are just as bad.

To automatically assume that all Mexican trucks are dangerous based on the ones you've seen running shuttle work would be as bad as a European basing their opinion on the US trucking industry on an old beat up Mack they see in traffic on the Long Island Expressway.

The nice old Macks are a dieing breed. You just don't see them around much any more. Nice R- model or a Superliner.

On another note, 96% of trucks entering the US will go uninspected.
That is just, too many.

You just don't "Get It" "RatMan". Americans do not want MEXICANS coming into OUR (not yours) country and stealing our jobs. Mexicans want a better life then they need end their cowardice and fight, rebell, and protest for their own freedom and prosperity in Mexico and not come here and steal it from us!

Get a clue!

NAFTA Must be repealed! (The Mexican part anyway)

Here's a little quote from one of our Mexican residents:

“We have got to eliminate the gringo, and what I mean by that is if the worst comes to the worst, we have got to kill him.” Jose Angel Gutierrez, founder of La Raza

Gutierrez is a lunatic who no more speaks for the Latino population any more than Matt Hale speaks for the white man.

Are the inspection rates of US trucks much better? In the 3 years I drove a truck (2 OTR and 1 local), I got a ONE DOT inspection.

Its our land, were just stealing it back, least thats what they tried to shove down my throat last time I went to a La Raza meeting LOL

Yep... it's just like this "Rat" guy trying to convince us it's OK for Mexicans to take our jobs! Mexicans need to be working in Mexico.... that's why it's called Mexico cause Mexicans live there (Or Should be).

And I don't give a #### what type of trucks them Mexicans got.... I don't want them in our (not yours rat guy) country!

This is my country too, you ignorant fuck. :roll:

Don't forget La Raza's other motto: For the race-Everything. For others-nothing.

George W and most of the people in Congress are honorary members of La Raza.

Hey Pakrat, I truly would like to understand why you believe that this is a nonissue? Even if you do have relatives in Mexico, hiring them at slave labor isn't going to help them, but it will hurt all of us including you. Please explain your position on the matter. Thank you.

Also, one other question. I'm wondering how truck drivers are perceived down there? I have been to a Latin America country and trucker drivers were considered the worst, well maybe not the worst but pretty bad. It wasn't something you were proud of. The owners of the truck on the other hand...

I don't have relatives in Mexico. I do have good friends who live down there however.

As for the trucking issue, I don't think this is the end of the world issue it's being made out to be. Mexican companies will be hauling freight that originates in Mexico destined for the US and vice versa, the same that's been going on with Canadian drivers for years. We made an agreement, we must own up to it. The dynamics of the world economy has changed forever. Free trade is one of those changes and there is no going back, unless you want to declare capitalism a failure.

The Mexican truck issue is not the same as the illegal immigrant/worker issue but people are mixing the two purposely to stir up anger and fear. IMO it's being done by those with a political agenda for the next round of elections in a "wag the dog" scenario.

The people I know in Mexico know that I used to be a truck driver. They didn't see that as being a contemptable occupation in any way. I suppose it all depends on what country you visit.

Woo-woo and amesty is coming too! Hope you gringo's can speak spanish. I already only speak spanish where I live, no one will be speaking english anywhere anymore at this speed.
Had a little problem tho when I offered to join the minute-men. My own homies were going to kill, me and spit on me and called me a traitor.

There are several differences between Canada and Mexico the first and foremost is the difference in wages between Mexico and Canada. Canadian wages tend to keep be similar to the averages in the US which ascts as a support to rates. Mexican wages are WAY under the US average. ANY shipper or carrier will try to get as many miles out of those low wage drivers for as many miles as they possibly can. And the US government is going to help them.... :roll:

Couple that with the fact those Mexican trucks delivering to "hometown USA" will need to be loaded with a backhaul to make it back to the border....wellll....what defines a back haul and how long will it take for that truck to meander back to the border? How many LTL loads can be piggybacked along the way? What about an LTL coming IN from Mexico....can it pick up additional freight along the way? I'll bet it will be allowed to... :?


And free trade? How many US firms actually carry freight deep into Mexico? Why would any shipper want to pay US freight rates when they can exchange at the border and pay Mexican wages the rest of the way.

This is bad every which way you look at it.

Ok at first blush so they will be hauling Mexican bound freight etc just as the Canadians do; no big deal. But you don't believe this can and will turn into something worse? Don't you find it a bit odd the the same people that are propagating the driver shortage myth are supporting this?

Also, Canadians and Mexicans are totally different. Well that is their system of operation anyway. How are they going to enforce HOS laws and background searches that we all have to go through? There have been many other valid questions on other issues as well poster in these threads.

Me personally, I do not believe this is being intentionally stirred into a racial issue. Of course you are always going to have ignorant people, but that doesn't negate that their are real concerns for this. As I've said several times already I truly believe that paying Mexicans slave wages, if that's what comes from all of this, isn't going to help the Mexicans but it will bring us down.

Hmmm dont be so sure of that; every time when I was running and got close to the border I went over to find a lady to rommance in spanish (Juarez, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, and El Ceentro). Good Lord, when I told them I was a truck driver (running freight in the US), I recieved the same status as you telling a lady at an expensive N.Y. club that you are a high priced succesfull attorney. :D

This is intolerable! This "Pepe" and other Mexican rasists think they can spew racial slurs (gringo's) with Impunity!

This poster should be admonished for his racists comment and BANNED from this board!

This is America's "Enemy Within". Many of these Mexicans come here for the work to take, take, take.... but they hate America and Americans. I don't care if they are citizens they will NEVER be Americans!

US law strictly prohibits Foreigners (Mexicans) from working in America.... unless they acquire an H1B visa to do a job that was properly advertised and no American applied. Doing a job Americans don't want to do? Truck Driving? I think not!

NAFTA MUST BE REPEALED ( At Least the Mexican Part!)

I think this is a good step for the relationship between Americans and Mexicans. Latinos are victims of discrimination and maybe Congress allowing the truckers in America it will help the healing.

Are you smoking crack?

I think you have lost your mind bro?!?!

What about the racist slur (Gringos) made against Americans by the poster "Pepe"? Is he not spewing discrimination against Americans? And what about the La Raza guy? Is he not also spewing hate and discrimination against Americans?

And who said ANYTHING about Latinos? This is about Mexicans!

It cuts both ways bro, and surrendering our country to Mexicans IS NOT the answer!

NAFTA MUST BE REPEALED ( At Least the Mexican Part!)

You complaining about a racial slur is rich. :lol:

Hey bros...lets cool it with the name calling. This is not about brown vs white...illegals vs legals...blah blah etc. This is a national border issue where two nations side by side have radically different wage levels and we are about to allow one low paying side to come across and work in the same market (our nation's roads) as our own citizens are.

Lets keep it on topic here... 8)

Well I gotta agree, I don't appreciate people (Mexicans?) throwing the word Gringo around like they got some kinda pass to insult? That kinda language should not be allowed here.

On Topic, my company, Celadon, is one of the worst offenders of this "Corporate Grreed" plan to replace many of their drivers with Mexicans and is chomping at the bit spending 10's of millions ln lobbyists funds to grant amnesty to the 20 million Mexicans already here illegally. They even have a fund to help train the illegals for their American CDL's once they get amnesty.

And yes, I'm keaving soon.

Read all about in the Tombstone Tumbleweed, Page 8:



http://tombstonetumbleweed.com/PDF_A...bleSep0105.pdf

Why is it rich. It's a slur, no matter how you slice it. Should not be allowed, and the posters of such slurs(or any other slurs regarding whatever race) should be banned quite simply.

I don't have the time to re read the TOS for the board, but I'm sure there is a rule in there about this very issue. If not, there should be.

It's rich because he's used racist language himself.

Oh Really???

Why don't you copy and post what your small mind thinks was inappropiate language?

You got a real problem bro.... You appear to have a severe hatred of America and based on your posts seemed determined to "sell us out" to the Mexicans.


Americans DO NOT want Mexicans driving on US soil taking our jobs! It's that simple. NAFTA or no NAFTA it is wrong for America and almost everyone (except You) seems to agree!

Time to change NAFTA, keep the Canadian part and delete the Mexican part!

Just my opinion.. of course... <grin>

This is about drivers from a 3rd world country willing and able to live on wages that are about 1/3rd of what is required here in the States.

This is about those same drivers not having to uphold the standards by which we are required to live by -- namely persistent records (driver, work and legal history) and drug screening.

I have no problem in competing in the marketplace. This, however, is not a level playing field.

RoadKing, you kind of remind me of extreme animal-activists that I have to put up with. Because I brand my calves with a hot iron, I am hated beyond belief, and I'm told that I hate animals and want to purposely cause animals pain and suffering to their death. And because I'm a rodeo contestant, I'm told that I ride bulls and rope calves for the sole purpose of causing them pain for other people's pleasure.

You and the animal activists make me laugh. Ya'll make generalizations then broadcast them to the public, albiet, in a persuasive manner. But what ya'll do is take a little bitty piece of the truth, then blow it up with misconceptions and even with lies. I'm not saying your opinions are wrong, and I'm not saying you're right, I'm just saying you're single minded, along with many other activists on different topics, and to me that's amusing, in a sad way.