Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

Road Check 2010 concluded yesterday after participation of Canada, Mexico and the United States, all equal partners in CVSA. In this photo, Mexican CMV's are routed into the fully automated "super coop" south of Nuevo Laredo for weight and credentials checks and random safety inspections.

I sat out Road Check 2010 once again for the umpteenth time. Not out of any concern my truck had defects, simply that Road Check and the other blitz’s are more about revenue than safety. And for some inspectors, loading up a drivers CSA 2010 record with nitpicks.

This year, RC-2010 began on my birthday, reason enough not to work, so my time was spent in Monterrey at the house, relaxing and catching up on things. As I was preparing for the trip home, listening to Landlinenow and the host telling about the upcoming Road Check 2010 and that “Inspectors from the US and Canada”, yadda yadda…… And I thought “wait a moment! CVSA is a tri-lateral affair. Where’s the third player in the game? What happened to Mexico’s participation?

Ahhh, right! Have I learned nothing from listening to the overnight trucking shows and Landlinenow that tell us that Mexico has no regulations, no control over their untrained and sub standard drivers? Have I not paid attention when told of the rolling pieces of junk being held together by baling wire and duct tape? Silly me! Imagine my surprise rolling south on Mx 85 when I passed the northbound Mexican Mega Coop and trucks were lined up out on the highway waiting their turn to cross or be inspected.

How can this be? If Mexico has no regulations governing their transportation industry and Licencia Federal de Conductores, can be bought for a buck on any street corner in Mexico, why does this modern, fully automated “super coop” exist? Could this be just one more of the multitude of lies that OOIDA, The Teamsters, Trucking Bozo, ATN and Nemo have been spreading?

Check out the photos and decide for yourself.
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It is if people such as Todd Spencer of OOIDA have their way about it.

At a meeting of the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee on Monday, these were two items on the long term agenda.

Todd Spencer, Executive Vice President of OOIDA is a member of this working group.

Under their LONG TERM GOALS

Add “Distracted Driving” to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
Documented research shows that there are cognitive distractions and increases in
crashes from cellular phone use and text messaging. Therefore, the committee
recommends that FMCSA initiate rulemaking to ban the use of hand-held and hands-
free cellular phones and text messaging.

Takes you back to the days when they banned radar detectors doesn’t it?

Another interesting development is they intend to shove sleep apnea studies down our throats. Read the rest of this entry »

An independent review panel’s report on the Mexican Cross Border Demonstration Program was released today and appears to affirm, confirm and validate, my opinions on the issue over the past year and a half.

The panel, commissioned by Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, in the waning days of this administration, proves, without a shadow of a doubt, the safety and ability of these carriers to operate within the rules and regulations, the same as we do.

The 119 page report can be downloaded HERE.

More importantly, at least to me, it verifies a very unscientific study I did on my own in the tenth month of the program.

For the first time, the review panel included the forgotten and ignored fleet of Mexican carriers grandfathered in under the 1982 Moratorium which gives us a more complete picture of their compliance.

Highlights of the Report

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Irizar Century. Typical of motor coaches used in Mexico with automatic fire suppresion systems and a myriad of safety options standard

Has anyone been paying attention to what’s happening on Capitol Hill? Remember the “Black Box” controversy where Joan Claybrook and Public Citizen was trying to get Electronic Onboard Recorders mandated for all commercial vehicles? Think it’s all been forgotten? Think again!

Remember back in August the Sherman Texas Bus Crash that made national headlines and exposed the fly by night operations of some Texas Tour bus operators?

This event of course, triggered the call by some lawmakers for tougher standards for bus operators.

Among these, was Senator Kay Baily Hutchinson of Texas, Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio. They had a bill languishing in committee since 11/07, referred to as (S2326) Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2007

Now, that bill is getting renewed sponsorship and is currently being considered by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security.
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Mexican Kenworth T660 on the free road between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey is typical of Mexican line haul trucks in operation on Mexican highways today. Gone or the days of what could be perceived as

The days after the one year mark of the Mexican Cross Border Program, and exactly one year to the day that the first truck crossed the border to inaugerate the program, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 395-18 voted to end the controversial Mexican Cross Border Program.

For one year, these 100 trucks have operated safely with ZERO accidents and ZERO serious safety issues further reinforcing the statistics that show Mexican carriers have a lower OOS rate than their counterparts. The past year proved that Mexican carriers can operate under our laws and regulations, do so safely and with no impact on American trucking jobs or economics.

But this is not enough to satisfy those such as Jimmy Hoffa, President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Despite evidence to the contrary, he still cannot utter the words, “Mexican Trucks” without putting “dangerous”, “unsafe” or “illegal” as a preface.

So Hoffa and his protectionists allies in Congress have won a battle but the war still rages. There is a continuing groundswell of support from mainstream media outlets, and business groups such as National Association of Manufacturers who quit out of character for them, came out and told it like others are afraid to do. Treaties? Trade Agreements? We’ll Violate Them with Impunity Tough talk but brutally honest.

The US Chamber of Commerce issued a “key vote” letter to lawmakers urging them to reject the bill. A “key vote’ letter is indicative of the seriousness of the issue and shows intent to place the members votes on a voters scorecard.

Retaliation Expected
As I am writing this, the a statement was released by the Mexican Embassy in Washington.

“Mexico has fulfilled its NAFTA obligations and expects the U.S. do the same. Should the bill be enacted into law, the government of Mexico will consider taking all the appropriate actions, including remedies or countermeasures under the North American Free Trade Agreement,” the embassy statement said.

As well they should and they have every right to do so.

Sadly, this demonstrates not the “will of the people” of is suppose to be the reason Congress exists, but the “will of special interests”.

Over the past year, I’ve had conversations in truck stops, over the CB radio, will American truckers. Most could care less about the Mexican trucks. The overwhelming opinion is if they play by the rules, they don’t have a problem.

I’ve run with other truckers on the highway and passing one of these Pilot Program participants, asking my running buddies what they thought about that “dangerous Mexican truck” we had just passed. They could not tell the Mexican truck from any others.

The truth is, this program has not effected any one of us in this industry nor in this country. Nor can it. The numbers just don’t add up.

More of my thoughts on my website where I can be my usual lovable, logical self.

And after a long dry spell, I have returned!

After months of hype smear campaigns by the plaintiffs, the lawsuit against FMCSA over the cross border program was heard by a three Judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Tuesday, February 12.

Some of the issues raised, included the parties “standing” in the action, the legality of continuing the program in view of the flawed amendment inserted into the Omnibus spending bill signed by President Bush in December and the statistical validity of the results with so few participants.

Out of the gate, the attorney representing Teamsters, Public Citizen and Sierra Club was asked by one of the Jurists, why and for what reason was Sierra Club a party to this action for which he become slightly combative with the Judge and had no good explanation for their presence. It was suggested they were merely a party to share in attorney fees should the plaintiff’s prevail.

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I was blown away last month when we got a sneak peak at this truck and it was all I could do to keep from spilling the beans about it then. But now, that the day has arrived for its debut, I am even more impressed.

Normally, I haven’t been too keen on the trend towards retro styling on automobiles. It’s hard to duplicate perfection from the past using todays required technology. But with the Lonestar, it seems International has found the happy medium.

That massive grill reminds me of the Diamond T’s and other solid road trucks of the past. The chrome louvers on the side add style to functionality. The factory installed “good buddy” lights are tasteful and accentuate the stylish design of the truck.

Ya’ll check out the interior. Hell, I could live in this thing. Optional Bluetooth radio setup and optional Monsoon 11 speaker stereo with sub and amp. You can bang out some tunes on that thing. My Jetta has a similar Monsoon system installed and it is awesome.

Swivel seats, a dash that is designed for driver comfort seem to make this the perfect truck for the owner operator. I don’t see many fleets putting this to work but time will be the judge of that.

This truck could definitely be the answer to driver retention and satisfaction. I know it could satisfy me in a big way. I want one!

President Bush signed the $555 Omnibus Spending bill despite misgivings about the record 9000 special earmarks included. Included in the bill was a small paragraph that opponents of the program celebrated as the end to the cross border program.

Moments later, FMCSA issued a press release making known their intent to carry forward with program.

FMCSA made it clear they were following the wording of the amendment which stated:

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We haven’t touched on this subject for awhile and since it seems the opponent and others are beginning to throw around their distorted version of events, perhaps it’s time we revisit the subject.
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Here’s hoping all of you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving Day with your families.

Today is “Black Friday” the traditional start to the holiday shopping season. Merchants view this day as a predictor for the coming holiday season and traditionally is the day that puts merchants in “the black”!

I’ve been running around Atlanta Georgia all day making deliveries and have been noticing the lack of traffic to the malls, to Wal-Mart and Target. Several WM’s that I passed had maybe 30 – 40 cars in an otherwise empty parking lot the entire day.

I was down in East Point around one of the large shopping plaza’s off of I-285. The Police were out in force, parked on the medians to the entrances to control traffic, but there was no traffic to control.

Traffic on I-285 at mid day and again at 5 pm was as if it was 3 in the morning. I’ve never seen it this light.

If this is an idication of what this season is going to bring, we’re all in trouble. No shoppers, no freight. It’s already beginning to slow on the border.

At the moment, I am sitting in the Flying J in Carnesville Georgia. There is exactly a dozen trucks in here. At least some got home for the holidays.

Scales are closed, it’s a good time to be out here running.

Take care out there. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

And oh yeah!

HOW ABOUT THEM HOGS

ARKANSAS 50

LSU 48