Eased Trucking Regulations Under Scrutiny

The Whittier Daily News ^ | March 9, 2007 | Lisa Friedman, Washington Bureau

[truthkeeper]

"If it is successful, the trial will pave the way for full cross-border truck access that the U.S. and Mexico agreed to when they signed the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1992."

[cripplecreek]

Peters vowed that all Mexican trucks entering the United States under a limited pilot program will be subject to tough regulations

We've got tough laws against illegal immigration too. Only a moron would believe that these regulations will be enforced for long. Trucking is fast becoming one more job Americans "won't" do.

[RC2]

Does our government even care that the American people don't want this? For some unknown reason, I had thought that the government worked for us.....we don't work for them. Maybe my teachers in school didn't understand this.

[abigailsmybaby]

Will there be a limit on the number of illegal aliens they can haul in one trailer?

[ikka]

State Troopers are gonna love this. They will be able to write up ticket after ticket.

[Alberta's Child]

That's a good observation. This article mentions Federal regulations in particular, but these trucks are also going to be subject to state safety standards, weight limits, etc.

This country already has thousands of Mexican truckers on the roads. It's just that they're Mexican immigrants (legal and illegal) driving right here in the U.S. now.

[ikka]

If you have ever driven in a Third World country, you know the kind of chaos that I think will ensue.

Expect to hear lots of stories in the media about horrific truck->car accidents. Buried in the story or not mentioned will be that it is a Mexican trucking firm with a Mexican driver.

[zeugma]

State Troopers are gonna love this. They will be able to write up ticket after ticket.

You're kidding right?

Tickets are about revenue generation. What good does it do to write a ticket to someone who won't pay? 

[1rudeboy]

Seeing that Mexican trucks have been traveling within a 20-25 mile buffer zone in the United States for more than a decade, and short-haul trucks are inherently more poorly maintained than long-haul trucks, it's not very likely that your "chaos" will ensue.

[CDHart]

There goes the American trucking industry.

Carolyn

[itsahoot]

it's not very likely that your "chaos" will ensue.

I doubt you live anywhere near the border, or you couldn't possibly make that statement.

GW has pushed these bread and butter issues since day one, it cost us the house and senate, and probably the Presidency, but anything for a buck I guess.

[1rudeboy]

No, I do not live near the Mexican border, relying instead upon FReepers posting stories of the unsafe Mexican deathtraps with no brakes and a hybrid form of rolling diplomatic immunity barreling down our highways, crushing women and children in their paths. What's that you say? That's right, I've been here since 1999 and not seen one.

[Ben Ficklin]

About 60 days after Bush entered office, Mexico was awarded a $2 billion per year judgement against the US over the refusal to admit the mexitrucks.

[ikka]

it's not very likely that your "chaos" will ensue.

I suppose time will tell; but I do know owner-operators of long haul trucking companies here in the USA, and have myself driven near trucks in Third World countries--which form the basis for my beliefs.

[ikka]

What good does it do to write a ticket to someone who won't pay?

The trucking companies won't pay at first (they are liable even if the driver is the one at fault).

After the first few trucks are impounded, then they will start to pay.

My guess is that they will target refrigerated trucks as those are more time-sensitive and the trucking firm is on the hook if the goods don't arrive fresh and on time.

[itsahoot]

What's that you say? That's right, I've been here since 1999 and not seen one.

You are either a fool or a paid hack, in either case you are not woth the bandwidth.

[Ben Ficklin]

Mexican trucks have been crossing the US to reach Canada since 1996.

[1rudeboy]

Neither a fool, nor a paid hack, just less susceptible to Teamster/Green Party propaganda.