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Mexican rigs ready to roll
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | August 24, 2007 | Jerome R. Corsi

Posted on 08/24/2007 4:06:05 AM PDT by Man50D

The requirements for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Mexican Truck Demonstration Project have been met, and some 37 Mexican trucking companies have been approved to run their long-haul rigs through the U.S. starting as early as Sept. 1, according to a Mexican government report.

In the United States, the inspector general of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Aug. 6 issued to the House and Senate Appropriations Committee an audit about implementing NAFTA's cross-border trucking provisions, the last hurdle DOT faced before allowing the Mexican truck demonstration project to begin.

As required by Congress, the report was withheld from public release until August 21 – 15 days after being delivered to Congress.

At that point, industry commentators instantly noted that the FMCSA inspector general requested that additional improvements be made in two areas: to improve the quality of the data used to monitor Mexican commercial driver traffic convictions in the United States and to ensure adequate capacity to inspect Mexican buses.

The first industry reaction was that the report had blocked DOT from allowing the Mexican truck demonstration project to start until the FMCSA had adequately satisfied the deficiencies noted in these two recommendations.

(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Mexico; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: border; corsi; illegals; immigrantlist; immigration; lowrider; mexico; nafta; nau; security; spp; trucking; trucks
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Comment #21 Removed by Moderator

To: GatĂșn(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
Will all road signs be made bilingual too?
22 posted on 08/24/2007 2:39:52 PM PDT by Sybeck1 (I like Rodney Carrington's recipe for World Peace.)
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To: Pete-R-Bilt; tubebender; glock rocks

ping


23 posted on 08/24/2007 3:12:24 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( "Freedom is not free, but don't worry the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.")
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To: AuntB
How are Mexican truckers going to find the hospitality at truckstops?

I worked and donated to elect a president of the United States, but George W. Bush just wants to be FIRST LADY OF MEXICO!!

24 posted on 08/24/2007 3:23:13 PM PDT by Mamzelle
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To: AuntB; Hazcat; B4Ranch; Pete-R-Bilt; tubebender
So are American CITIZEN truckers, who have become a dying breed.

It's no longer about soverignty, or the little guy, or the American citizen. It's about crooked politicians (but I repeat myself) and the corporate puppet masters.

25 posted on 08/24/2007 3:45:43 PM PDT by glock rocks (Please pray every day for our Patriot Armed Forces fighting to protect our way of life.)
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To: glock rocks; AuntB; Hazcat; B4Ranch; Pete-R-Bilt; tubebender
latest industry report. wordy but worth reading...

SPECIAL REPORT: OIG says cross-border program still needs work

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007 – The most recent report card from the Office of Inspector General on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s implementation of cross-border trucking provisions isn’t exactly stellar.

OIG audits are required by the 2002 transportation appropriations legislation Section 350. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s OIG was charged with signing off on FMCSA’s compliance on eight provisions within Section 350 and updating its audits annually.

In the most recent follow-up audit released Aug. 21 on the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement’s cross-border trucking provisions, the OIG acknowledged the agency had made progress but the OIG did not sign off on two provisions required by Section 350 of the 2002 transportation appropriations legislation.

“We found continual improvement in the border safety program since our earlier reports dating back to 1998. FMCSA took the actions it agreed to take in response to the nine recommendations in our January 2005 report,” said Madeline M. Chulumovich, director of Congressional and public affairs with the OIG’s office.

“Despite the progress FMCSA has made, additional improvements are needed in two of the eight Section 350 (c) criteria. These involve improving the quality of the data used to monitor Mexican commercial driver traffic convictions in the United States and ensuring adequate capacity to inspect Mexican buses. FMCSA concurred with our recommendations and proposed responsive corrective actions.”

Data on Mexican drivers
While FMCSA officials may contend that Section 350 (c) 1 (g) relating to data on Mexican drivers has been signed off on by the OIG, several areas were highlighted as problematic in the newest audit.

The OIG follow-up audit focused extensively on the reporting of Mexican driver convictions to the 52nd State System. It contains records of traffic violations Mexican CDL holders commit in the U.S.

The 52nd State System was addressed in the 2005 audit conducted by the OIG. Since that audit, all states have ability to report to the system electronically except Oregon – which is in the process of getting online.

The current audit focused on the reporting of the four border states – Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. Reporting to the system dropped off significantly after 2005, according to the audit.

As it turned out, New Mexico had incorrectly coded its data and failed to record any convictions after 2005. Texas had stopped providing conviction information to the database and had accumulated more than 40,000 convictions needing review by June of 2006.

Arizona officials had to sort through convictions by hand to identify specific violations and California officials were not being provided with the details of the violations in some instances.

The OIG audit states these problems have since been straightened out, but that FMCSA needs to have strong follow-up to make sure the states implement their corrective action plans.

The OIG recommended FMCSA develop a process to periodically identify and notify states of inconsistencies in the 52nd State System data and make sure the states take steps to correct the problems.

Another system used to track Mexican drivers is Mexico’s Licencia Federal Information System – LIFIS for short.

FMCSA reported to the OIG that LIFIS now contains 269,000 valid licenses, 140,000 expired licenses and 9,000 disqualified or restricted licenses. Through April 2006, U.S. federal and state law enforcement officials have accessed LIFIS 19,000 times.

The agency reported that 82 percent of the inquiries returned a valid CDL. Expired and restricted licenses came back in 2 percent of the inquiries.

However, 16 percent of the searches came back “driver not found.” FMCSA said this could have resulted from input errors on the inquiries.

Auditing the data was a problem for the OIG because the database is owned by the Mexican government.

“We could not determine whether the large percentage of queries to LIFIS that resulted in a response of ‘driver not found’ were due to data entry problems by U.S. users of the system, attempts by Mexican drivers to operate with invalid licenses, incompleteness of the Mexican database, or other unknown reasons,” the OIG audit states.

While these problems were highlighted in the audit, no action was ordered by the OIG.

Bus operations
When the OIG looked at bus operations, inspectors found facilities – specifically mentioning the bus inspection facility in Laredo, TX – as being short on both physical facilities and inspectors.

The OIG directed FMCSA to provide adequate inspector coverage during holidays or other periods of peak bus traffic, and to periodically determine the effectiveness of the bus inspection plan by surveying field personnel or through other methods.

More problems
The OIG pointed to two more areas of concern FMCSA needs to take steps to address, one of which is the OIG wants FMCSA to continue focusing on Mexican carrier drug and alcohol testing issues.

The audit notes that FMCSA met with U.S. and Mexican government officials to ensure that drug and alcohol testing issues are being addressed.

“However, a significant issues with specimen collection remains,” the audit states. “It is not clear as to whether the controls in place ensure that valid specimens are being collected before being sent to a certified laboratory. We found no evidence that collection site concerns have been resolved.”

The OIG office recommends that FMCSA develop and action plan to address these concerns.

Compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards was also addressed in the audit. FMCSA was directed to take steps to implement its policy ensuring Mexican motor carrier compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Glimpse into the future?
While the follow-up audit only tackled compliance with eight provisions in Section 350, another more comprehensive audit is already underway at the OIG’s office.

That audit will review compliance with 22 more provisions of Section 350 as required by Section 6901 of the U. S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007.

While the OIG’s office has launched its review of the proposed cross-border program and its compliance with Section 350, it obviously has not been completed.

However, in the follow-up audit, the OIG did provide a parting shot at the proposed program.

The audit points out that FMCSA needs good screening mechanisms at the border, coordinated closely with the U.S. Customs and Border protection because of FMCSA’s assertion that “ … every truck that crosses the border as part of the pilot will be checked – every truck, every time.”

The audit points out that this could be problematic.

“Our observations at the Laredo crossing … confirmed the challenge FMCSA faces in screening project participants,” the audit states.

“Specifically, we observed hundreds of vehicles entering the United States at the Laredo crossing each day. FMCSA inspectors selected vehicles for inspection from the line of trucks waiting to cross the border. However, once an inspector selected a vehicle and diverted it for an inspection, no FMCSA personnel remained at the screening point to monitor carrier traffic.”


26 posted on 08/24/2007 8:45:32 PM PDT by Pete-R-Bilt (Somewhere on the Jellico highway...)
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To: Pete-R-Bilt

Thanks! I’m almost afraid to read it...


27 posted on 08/24/2007 8:46:34 PM PDT by AuntB (" It takes more than walking across the border to be an American." Duncan Hunter)
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To: Pete-R-Bilt; AuntB; B4Ranch
However, 16 percent of the searches came back “driver not found.” FMCSA said this could have resulted from input errors on the inquiries.

Auditing the data was a problem for the OIG because the database is owned by the Mexican government.

“We could not determine whether the large percentage of queries to LIFIS that resulted in a response of ‘driver not found’ were due to data entry problems by U.S. users of the system, attempts by Mexican drivers to operate with invalid licenses, incompleteness of the Mexican database, or other unknown reasons,” the OIG audit states.

While these problems were highlighted in the audit, no action was ordered by the OIG.

So... leseee heah... 16% of the supposed 120,000 valid licenses is, um, 19,200.

If I may paraphrase the quote:

WE DON'T HAVE A FREEKIN CLUE if 19,200 of these Mexican truck drivers EVEN HAVE licenses, so we'll ignore it.


28 posted on 08/24/2007 8:56:50 PM PDT by glock rocks (Please pray every day for our Patriot Armed Forces fighting to protect our way of life.)
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To: glock rocks

We’re doomed.


29 posted on 08/24/2007 8:58:53 PM PDT by AuntB (" It takes more than walking across the border to be an American." Duncan Hunter)
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To: Pete-R-Bilt

>Another system used to track Mexican drivers is Mexico’s Licencia Federal Information System – LIFIS for short.<

LIF(e) IS short.


30 posted on 08/24/2007 9:06:24 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( "Freedom is not free, but don't worry the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.")
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To: Pete-R-Bilt
>“Specifically, we observed hundreds of vehicles entering the United States at the Laredo crossing each day. FMCSA inspectors selected vehicles for inspection from the line of trucks waiting to cross the border. However, once an inspector selected a vehicle and diverted it for an inspection, no FMCSA personnel remained at the screening point to monitor carrier traffic.”<

, no FMCSA personnel remained at the screening point to monitor carrier traffic.

If you don't want to know the truth, don't look for it. Normal operations for this FUBAR program.

31 posted on 08/24/2007 9:09:54 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( "Freedom is not free, but don't worry the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.")
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To: Joe Boucher

What the heck are they using the federal road funds for? It surely isn’t the roads or bridges. They’re all falling apart.


32 posted on 08/24/2007 9:11:21 PM PDT by Pining_4_TX
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To: AuntB

>>We’re doomed<<

I know what you mean - I have been avoiding the highway for two months, now. It was then that I got the scare of my life; I was going uphill - passing 5 or 6 big rigs. I had my lights on. It was the middle of the day. Just as I had passed nearly all the trucks, near the top of the hill, an 18 wheeler pulled out right in front of me. No blinker - no warning. Just jerked his wheels to the left and pulled out into the left lane within feet of my vehicle. I had to burn rubber to come to a stop and avoid hitting him. Everything in my car became a projectile.

His license plate was two feet from where I thankfully managed to stop. Mexico.


33 posted on 08/24/2007 9:17:57 PM PDT by yorkie
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To: glock rocks

English Calls on Administration to Halt
Cross-Border Trucking Program

Jeopardizes Safety and Security of Americans

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) is calling on the Bush Administration to halt the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) plans to provide Mexican motor-carriers unrestricted access in the United States. English was joined by a bipartisan group of 112 House lawmakers in a letter sent to the president on Monday.

“The Cross Border Demonstration Program would give Mexican truck drivers unfettered access to the United States without a demonstrable way to verify their identity, immigration status and length of stay in United States,” the members wrote. “The program would open major loopholes that would allow violators to disregard our laws because we have no verifiable system in place to identify and deal with them.”

Read the letter that 112 lawmakers signed and sent to President Bush six weeks ago, here:

http://www.house.gov/list/press/pa03_english/truck0707.html


34 posted on 08/24/2007 9:36:51 PM PDT by yorkie
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To: Pete-R-Bilt; glock rocks; B4Ranch
I am just unable to understand what our president is doing to us without having evil thoughts about his intentions. My guess this is just the forerunner to container ports in Mexico with delivery by Mexican trucks so WalMart can cut their shipping cost and screw the America Trucker...
35 posted on 08/24/2007 9:53:18 PM PDT by tubebender (My first great grandson is a Miniature Schnauzer...)
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To: Kimberly GG; Jim Robinson; Tennessee Nana; eeevil conservative; Tolerance Sucks Rocks; ...

Unfortunately all illegal aliens ARE criminals. Some are perpetrating what used to be called ‘white collar crime’ to enable their financial existence here via paycheck or contract work...traditional gainful employment, whether or not subsidized by welfare programs etc.

Others are here perpetrating crimes of violence.

Tolerance of any crime is a slippery slope and an outright injustice. Those who deprive Citizens of justice are engaged in criminal behavior—or at best, gross negligence or criminal negligence. My tagline regarding this is more than a year old.

As regards who should handle the issues you mention, the Fed is supposed to protect the States from invasion. If the Fed fails, the States have their own resources and **must refuse any Federal funds** that would tie the hands of the States. It is most definitely time to rejuvenate our Tenth Amendment.

Meanwhile, the Fed money the States have been subdued with is being extorted from the local Citizenry in the first place. When the Citizens force their States to refuse the Fed money and its attached strings, those Citizens start on the path back to their sovereignty—as I advocated earlier using other words.

And like the Chinese proverb goes, ‘The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.’


36 posted on 08/24/2007 10:02:29 PM PDT by The Spirit Of Allegiance (Public Employees: Honor Your Oaths! Defend the Constitution from Enemies--Foreign and Domestic!)
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To: The Spirit Of Allegiance

What happened to the legislation to kill this sh*t?


37 posted on 08/24/2007 10:05:28 PM PDT by pissant (Duncan Hunter: Warrior, Statesman, Conservative)
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To: B4Ranch; Travis McGee; AuntB; Liz

Ping!


38 posted on 08/24/2007 10:53:32 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! "Read my lips....No new RINO's" !!)
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To: Joe Boucher

Thanks Jorge Arbusto! Glad you look out for the interests of our southern neighbors.


39 posted on 08/25/2007 5:23:45 PM PDT by SmoothTalker
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To: sergeantdave

“Are the horror stories I read about Mexican truckers true?”

The drivers in Mexico are pretty bad. Not Africa bad, not China bad, but much more aggressive than anywhere in the US i’ve been. And that includes New Jersey!


40 posted on 08/25/2007 5:24:58 PM PDT by SmoothTalker
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