Waiting here in Laredo has given me some time to think about the wave of trucks waiting just across the border, waiting to move out across U.S. highways possibly by the end of this month. I keep asking myself why, why do we need to allow access to these trucks, why is the President in such a rush to kick off this pilot program that is just the first step in allowing unlimited access to U.S. customers to Mexican companies, why is it going to happen against the overwhelming public opinion against allowing Mexican trucks access to U.S. highways. The only answer I can come up with is simply profit. Increased profit to the companies that have already exported their jobs to Mexico in the pursuit of the profit. Profit to Mexican trucking companies, who can blame them for wanting the borders opened up. They can use lower waged Mexican drivers to compete against U.S. trucks for loads. Profits for the grocery companies, greatly reduced transportation cost, does anyone truly believe the savings will be passed to the customers. I’ll guarantee that tomatoes will cost just as much after Mexican trucks take over as they do now.
Profit has its price. The price of profit in this case will be American driving jobs, the environment and safety. Lets be realistic, no doubt this pilot program will use the best trucks and drivers that can be found in Mexico, at the end the final report will show that Mexican drivers and equipment are safe, probably safer than the average U.S. driver. But then the gates will be thrown open and the average drivers and cheapest equipment will make its way onto American highways, the same equipment that has been retired from American fleets because its too old to be safe. Remember I’m talking about after the pilot program has been completed and attention has turned away from the issue. Peter may argue with me but I’ve been to Mexico and have seen the equipment they run on their roads. Sure there are a lot of good equipment but there is also a lot of junk. I have made the argument before that the trucks running cross-border here in Laredo are sub-standard and have been presented with argument that these are just local trucks, as far as I’m concerned it doesn’t matter if you run 1 or a 1 million miles on American roads the equipment should be up to standard.
There are still issues with drug testing and enough inspection capacity that need to be answered but I’m sure these problems will be glossed over in the pursuit of profit. Mexican trucks are coming unless we make our voices heard by the politicians. Right now they listen to the people making the big campaign donations, we need to make them listen to us! The only way to really do that is to get out there and get registered to vote, calling your Senators and Representatives and actually following through by voting out the politicians that put the all-mighty Dollar ahead of your families safety and your job. Congress is on Vacation right now, this is actually a good time to meet your Senator or Representatives face to face and let them know how you feel and what they need to do when they go back to Washington. Most importantly vote!
Be safe;
Don Rogers
It’s all about profit Don.
I’m in Laredo for the remainder of the week with time on my hands. Would you care to see the real Mexican trucking industry from the other side? Contact me!
Hi Peter;
I appreciate offer to see the issue from your side. I’m going to have to pass today, a little tight on schedule for my load and I have a student with me. I actually have load that is supposed to come across early for once. Next time I’m down here though I’ll schedule the time to meet with you. I would love to get the grand tour from someone that knows his way around.
Keep up the good work on your site and post to LoTR, it really shows you are very passionate about the issues involved. I just think that the people here that are for opening the border are doing it for the wrong reasons.
Thanks again;
Don Rogers
What can we do to fight against such an invasion. We need to use every effort to combat against more job losses and poisons from other country’s . Look what China has done to our children’s toys with the use of lead paint . This is only the beginning of what’s been going on under our nose. It’s time to quit looking the other way and take action !
Cool your jets Charlie Hall. There is no relation between the crap coming out of China and our relationship with Mexico. There is no way any job losses will occur with this program. People need to start thinking for themselves rather than letting the pundits of the media do their thinking for them.
But you mention China and the lead in the paint. Think about when most of us were children. I was born in 1954 and there was lead in the paints. None of us grew up deformed or retarded. Hell, we have too much senseless regulation in our lives as it is.
BULL! You can’t tell me that this will not hurt the truckers when Mexican drivers are roaming across the highway when an American could of hauled it ! What about the safety factor alone If they can’t read or speak English, how do you think they will follow the same rules and regulations that we do Just because we may of had lead paint years ago doesn’t make it right now and there are people who were effected by it or they would not have made the regulations against it ! Would you want your child or their children playing with a toy if you know there’s a danger ? Why let others play with our livelyhood Too many company’s have taken our jobs to Mexico, China and has cost American’s their home’s and some their lives. Cool my jets ! It’s time for America to WAKE UP! Pansy additude will not work here. Maybe when it’s YOUR job on the line you’ll wake up or maybe the lead may have taken effect! TAKE BACK AMERICA .
Your comment shows your ignorance of the subject you speak about Charlie and your unwillingness to learn the facts of the issue, not parrot what others have put into your head.
1. The english provision has been addressed and is already being enforced, in Texas at least. At it doesn’t take a PHD in English to navigate the highways and do the job we do.
2. Candian trucks having been here for a number of years have not caused a loss of jobs as people in opposition to their presence once stated. To the contrary, it has made our job much easier being able to have access to Canada instead of being forced to drop our trailers and wait as we once had to.
3. There won’t be an “invasion” of Mexican trucks from south of the border as you put it. Many of the companies there have shown no interest in coming here. Believe it or not, Mexico has a thriving transportation industry.
4. You think there is a safety issue? Think again. CVSA inspection stats show a lower OOS rate for both trucks and drivers than for their U.S. and Canadian counterparts.
Get used to it Charley. It’s gong to happen. I work out of Laredo and my job is more secure than most. The impending opening of the border does not seem to cause any concern to those who you would think would be most concerned, the freight forwarders in Laredo. There is new construction going on constantly of new warehouse and new forwarding agencies opening. And we won’t mention the new manufacturing plant for copper tubing being built by a Mexican manufacturer which will bring 750 new well paying jobs to the U.S. side of the border.