Information for those worried about Mexican Truckers in US
 

I visit CAD almost every day in the last few months, and I like the advaice
most of you give to people asking all kinds of questions about the trucking business, It all changes when the Mexican trucks and drivers topic comes in, there is some people in this site that clearly shows the
hate they feel for non anglo people but mainly to Mexicans in general
not just to Mexican divers, But this is about Mexican Carriers and Drivers
There is people very concerned about the safety of the Mexican trucks
First Mexican Carriers make more money just with the transfer of loads
across the bridges form US to Mexico and viceversa than delivering long
haul to the North of USA a Mexican Carrier with just 5 trucks can make
$3000.00 per day with just 3 20 miles trips per truck and they work 6 day
per week, for a mexican carrier to come across with his trucks must obtain a USDOT/MX number assigned by the FMCSA (FEDERAL MOTOR
CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION) which conducts a rigorous inspection
to the trucks, back grounds of Carriers and his Drivers which must have
a Federal Drivers License fro Mexico`s Federal Gov Just like the US Class A each truck can come across 3 or 4 times per day and in every trip they
stop at DOT and DPS inspection stations at the US side of the bridge, if this inspectors find any thing wrong as little as a stop light bulb this truck
is put Out of Service and is not allowed to live until the problem is fixed
and a fine is paid, that is why carriers make sure all truck are in complice of USA safety regulations before sending any truck to the USA, so dont worry unless you think your inspectors take bribes and let the trucks go
without inspection (forgive my spelling I started learning english 5 motnhs ago to get my CDL-A which I now have)

I don't see any hate towards Mexicans on this site. I do see a lot of hate for ILLEGAL Mexicans, which I 100% understand.

I do see where you are coming from on mexican trucking equipment, and that has been a big concern with many here on CAD. Thank you for addressing the issue on the strict inspections these vehicles must undergo. Hopefully it clears the air on this issue.

I have been along the border and have seen a lot of trucks that should have been put out of service. Granted, it has been a couple of years since I have spent much time along the Southern border, but unless things have changed, I would not want to be on the road with most that I have seen. I am glad to hear that things have improved. Since you are from Southern Texas, I assume you live either around Laredo or El Paso.

Damn, they must be from Ohio! :shock:

EL Paso lies on the most western tip of Texas, hardly southern.

I bet it's still south of you. 8)

LOL...The only thing further south of El Paso in America.....is Mexico.

I was at the crossing at McAllen in late february, and saw plenty of beat up Mexican carrier trucks. Most were late 70's early 80's models. They were only making the cross border transfer's...right there in the Crossing area. The trucks taking the trailers from there were much newer...mid 90's to early 2000's. And..they were the trucks wearing USDOT numbers, as well as the TXDOT number.

I do not have anything against Mexicans drivng truck in America, as long as they are "Legally" here, can speak English as well as understand English, and are safe drivers, in maintained equipment. It does not need to be "New" equipment...simply maintained.

BTW, over the last 28 odd years, I have worked with more than a few "Immigrant" drivers. Russians, Indian's (India), Pakistani's, Iranians, Iraqi's, as well as Mexican, Guatemalan, and Honduran. They all spoke excellent english, were excellent drivers, and they were all Legal Immigrants.

I expect the US government to prevent the US labor market from being flooded with "Cheap Labor", there by protecting American Citizen wages, as well as lives. Even "Legal" Mexican drivers, working for a Mexican carrier, needs to generate enough income, to support his/her family, and live decently (ie; food, clean clothes, showers) on the road as well...which is not cheap here in America. And yes...I do differentiate between a Mexican driver, from Mexico, and a Mexican-American driver, born and raised in the good ole USA.

Why? Since when has the federal government been in the business of controlling labor markets? And how much downward pressure on freight rates is too much? Not being argumentative, not even taking a side, but how about we tell it like it is?

I have been along the border and have seen a lot of trucks that should have been put out of service[quote]
Probably what you do not like of those truck is that they are ugly and old
but mechanicly are up to the USA safety standars, and are makeing more
money than many BRAND NEW AMERICAN TRUCKS. this all american trucks with special permits from the Mexican Gov. to go into Mexico without paying inportation duties, Here in the Brownsville,TX area where
I live you can buy a 1997 Freightliner for $16.000 and start makeing $600
a day just hauling transfer loads. Regarding freight rates Mexican shippers
pay much better rates than American shippers, for example a load going
from Laredo,Texas to Laredo,MX pays $200 to a transfer carrier and from Laredo,MX to Monterrey,MX it pays $5000 pesos about $500 dls for a 180 miles trip that is $2.77 per mile for a load to Mexico City from Laredo,MX
the rate is $15.000 pesos for a 600 mile trip (1000 KM) $2.40 per mile.
See why Mexican Carriers are not interested in taking away loads from
American Truckers that run for as little as $0.99 per mile

[quote="CapitanGhost"]I have been along the border and have seen a lot of trucks that should have been put out of serviceHold on right there! Let's skip the part about the maintenance of the Mexican trucks- that's for the American public and the DOT to worry about. It's a distraction. There was one post on here saying Mexican drivers average 14 cpm. Now, are you flat out saying or are you just implying that freight rates in Mexico are higher than in the US? I'm calling complete BS on that one. If I had to spend the rest of the night googling articles about Mexican freight rates to prove the case I just might. Do I really need to do that? Is there anyone in his right mind who believes freight rates in Mexico are higher than in the US?