Anyone ‘in the know’ about how well Mexican trucks are inspected and/or Mexican truck drivers qualified to drive a big rig?
Inspection don’t need no stinking inspection. Not going to be any americans driving trucks into Mexico.
How well Mexican trucks are inspected and/or Mexican truck drivers qualified to drive a big rig? About as well as Mob hit men are trained in CPR.
Yes. They’re regularly overweight. Not by a little bit, either. Often they’re loaded up to about 110K.
If a MexTruck pulls up to the border and doesn't meet the standards, the US doesn't have to let the truck in.
But that is not what happend.
The US said that Mexican trucks, collectively, were not to the same standard as US trucks, collectively.
Thus the US didn't have to allow the MexTrucks in.
The arbitration panel said that was a violation of NAFTA, and awarded Mexico sanctioned retaliation.
They’ve been trying to do this for years. I recall Congressman Brian Bilbray (CA), fought it because Mexican standards for divers, truck maintenance are pathetic.
I’ve been in Mexico many times, and I have seen many many terrible trailer truck accidents there. Not sure why, but they are definitely doing something different there than we do.
They buy them in bulk from dealers who can’t resell them due to age and cost of repair to make road worthy. Mexico is why you don’t see many semi truck salvage yards. This should scare the crap out of everyone. At first the gubbamint will cover up the reality but I expect it to be so bad they won’t be able to for long. Another reality is its suposed to open up Mexico for US drivers, ask one of the US drivers that goes into Mexico what good this is. (Think car jacked, in alot of places by the police.) The only requirement of a truck in Mexico is a driver brave enough, btw.
Quick poll for all. How many would be more worried about the pot smoking driver than the mexican semi truck?
-can’t help it-
http://wikitravel.org/en/Driving_in_Mexico
This is a cleaned up a## kissing PC accout too,
“If you haven’t driven in Mexico before, and especially if you are not very fluent in Spanish, stick to the toll roads.”
“..travel these sections of road under the speed limit to make sure your car makes it back up north without any suspension or other issues..”
“The Mexican Federal Police (Policia Federal or “Federales”) patrol the roads. Unfortunately, the culture of “mordida” (the term for bribe in the local slang) still prevails, ..do not know English. “
“If you are going uphill and you see oncoming traffic, pull over to the side of the road, well out of the way, and either slow down or stop. If you are going downhill, use caution as the driver may not have read this.”
“Expect checkpoints along most major and some minor roads manned by the Mexican military: mostly with automatic weapons. You will be asked for driver’s licence and insurance information. Your vehicle will be searched, with varying degrees depending upon your attitude, your load, and how bored they are.”
“Many guidebooks and travellers advise against driving at night. This is excellent advice..and the occasional person who has fallen asleep on the warm road..”
“Mexican semi-trucks (”camiones”) drive fast and furiously. They will take as much of the road as they are able; give them as much room as you can.”
“AAA and other travel magazines advise you not to stop for broken-down motorists because this is a common trap set by bandits who are out for your cash.”
- wiki info by Wikitravel user Ikan Kekek. Based on work by Claus Hansen and agusvl@gmail.com,
To get around the problem, Mexican trucking firms who send thousands of truckloads of vegetables to the USA have already “sold” their trucks to dummy corporations in Nogales and Rio Rico, AZ. The trucks were then registered with Department of Transportation, given a number, and on the road they went. Their drivers were given US licenses, apparently through friendly arrangements in Nogales, AZ. Thus, people who know the interstate between Nogales and Phoenix have been aware of these Mexican trucks and stay well clear of them. The Highway Patrol is also aware of this, and the number of “foreign” trucks stopped on that route outnumbers the actual American operations.