****eater Bush extends Mexican truck program

[Dudeskey]

Bienvenidos, Mexricans!!!
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...truck-program/

Infuriated Democrats vowed Monday to kill a pilot program that gives Mexican trucks access to U.S. highways after the Bush administration - acting on the first day of Congress' summer recess - announced that it was extending the test project.

Rep. James L. Oberstar, chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said the administration's maneuver was the latest attempt to flout the will of Congress on the matter, and said he will introduce legislation ending the program once and for all.

"When Congress reconvenes in September, I intend to have the full House of Representatives approve our bill as quickly as possible, and make certain that the voice of Congress is heard loud and clear at the Department of Transportation and that this program is finally shut down," the Minnesota Democrat said.

The committee approved a bill Friday to prohibit continuation of the program beyond its original end date of Sept. 6. That measure still requires a vote by the full House when lawmakers return in September.

John H. Hill, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, said the Mexican truck program has been successful and deserves to be expanded. He said the program is designed to save consumers money by reducing shipping costs.

"We intend this extension to reassure trucking companies that they will have sufficient time to realize a return on their investment, and we anticipate additional participation with this extra time," Mr. Hill said. "The extension will ensure that the demonstration project can be reviewed and evaluated on the basis of a more comprehensive body of data."

Ten U.S. companies are participating in the program - an outgrowth of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement that cut trade barriers among the United States, Mexico and Canada - running 55 trucks south of the border. Twenty-seven Mexican companies have joined the program, operating 107 trucks in the U.S. The program's terms permit up to 500 trucks from 100 Mexican motor carriers full access to U.S. roads.

U.S. truckers say the lower labor costs of Mexican drivers cut into their business and could result in job losses. They also say Mexican drivers and equipment are not held to the same high safety standards as their U.S. counterparts.

"How many lives do we have to risk on our highways before the Bush administration puts public safety ahead of the greed of multinational corporations looking to send more of our middle-class jobs to Mexico?" said James P. Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Mr. Hill said the program has demonstrated that complaints of opponents are unfounded.

"To date, the project has shown that U.S. and Mexican carriers can engage in cross-border trucking operations in compliance with applicable laws and with no compromise to public safety or security," he said.

Sen. Byron L. Dorgan, North Dakota Democrat, called the extension a "reckless arrogance for the law," and Mr. Oberstar, who led the push to stop the program last year, said it was "no coincidence" that the administration waited until the first day of Congress' recess to announce plans to extend the one-year project for another two years.

[Dudeskey]

The industry's reaction... as usual the OOIDA is spot on.

8/5/2008
Monday's announcement by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that it was extending the Mexican border truck pilot program drew swift criticism and a vow from a powerful Congressman to act swiftly.

"When Congress reconvenes in September, I intend to move our bill as quickly as possible, and make certain that the voice of Congress is heard loud and clear at the Department of Transportation, and that this program is finally shut down," said James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, according to CQ Politics. Before leaving for its August recess, Oberstar's committee approved a bill last week that would stop the Transportation Department from continuing with the pilot program.

The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, Public Citizen and the Teamsters Union issued statements condemning the FMCSA's move.

OOIDA issued a statement saying it is not surprised by the announcement and maintains the continuance of the program is in defiance to Congressional directives as well as existing laws and regulations.

"The Administration has shown time and again that when it comes to this program they are willing to run roughshod over Congress and the American public," said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president. "Announcing this on the first day of the recess is unfortunately par for the course with them. Sorry for the cliché, but it's 'Bush league' tactics.

"DOT has consistently bent over backwards to force this program on the public. They seem oblivious to the inherent safety and security risks of what they are trying to do," Spencer said.

Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa said in a statement. "The blatant disregard that [Secretary of Transportation Mary] Peters, [Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator John] Hill and the Bush administration have shown to Congress, which has time and again expressed overwhelming opposition to this unsafe program, is outrageous. They have continued down this dangerous road that threatens American drivers and their families despite a federal law that bans funding for the program."

"The pilot program not only is unlawful, it is reckless," said a statement from Public Citizen, noting that the Bush administration "continues to flout Congress at the expense of highway safety." Extending the program for two more years "sends the wrong message and ignores multiple entreaties by Congress to terminate the program until safety concerns have been addressed."

[cutthemdown]

I heard we have a shortage of truckers so what's the big deal? Saying the trucks are dangerously unsafe is just more politics of fear.

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

I heard we have a shortage of truckers so what's the big deal? Saying the trucks are dangerously unsafe is just more politics of fear.

You have heard of "opening ones' mouth and erasing any doubt", haven't you?

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by TailgateNut

You have heard of "opening ones' mouth and erasing any doubt", haven't you?

Hey genius go ahead and worry about dodging those pesky unsafe Mexican trucks.

[baja]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

I heard we have a shortage of truckers so what's the big deal? Saying the trucks are dangerously unsafe is just more politics of fear.

You are such an ignorant person and you show it almost every time you type something.

With almost 25 years of living in Mexico and sharing roads with Mexican trucks I can assure you from direct experience that on occasion they drive rigs with out good brakes, bad tires, badly cracked wind shilds, one headlight, no tail lights all these things I see regularly. Not to mention our road signs are in ENGLISH. Some things you should have a healthy fear or and this is one of them. And you can bet that stream of illegals will turn to a raging river under this program. You have to be pretty special to be called an idiot by me so you have accomplished something.

[TDmvp]

trust me there is a shortage of truckers WANTING to actually work ...
We own 47 trucks and finding drivers is HELLISH ...

[Bob]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

I heard we have a shortage of truckers so what's the big deal? Saying the trucks are dangerously unsafe is just more politics of fear.

No, no, no, no. They do not have the same training, or insurance coverage, and it is another step to eroding into Meximerocanada. So if an industry is suffering from high fuel prices -- you don't do additional things to weaken our American-owned infrastructure. Are these trucks going to be inspected, what the hell is in the trucks? Slaves, drugs or something worse?

Bush and MANY others have this issue so wrong -- I hope the Dems and R's work together on this one.

[kappys]

Originally Posted by TDmvp

trust me there is a shortage of truckers WANTING to actually work ...
We own 47 trucks and finding drivers is HELLISH ...

Maybe you should pay them more

[Bob]

Originally Posted by baja

You are such an ignorant person and you show it almost every time you type something.

With almost 25 years of living in Mexico and sharing roads with Mexican trucks I can assure you from direct experience that on occasion they drive rigs with out good brakes, bad tires, badly cracked wind shilds, one headlight, no tail lights all these things I see regularly. Not to mention our road signs are in ENGLISH. Some things you should have a healthy fear or and this is one of them. And you can bet that stream of illegals will turn to a raging river under this program. You have to be pretty special to be called an idiot by me so you have accomplished something.

Amen -- so where are the R's outrage at their party's ignorance on this issue? Or do they only come out against the other club when they screwup?

[Bob]

Originally Posted by kappys

Maybe you should pay them more

That will happen, but there has to be a filtering first before that happens. Some 900 trucking companies (including private contractors) went under last year -- this year it will be more as fuel prices are much higher.

I dont want to pay higher prices, but I am not willing to gut out another American industry -- we all cant all be web developers.

[TDmvp]

Originally Posted by kappys

Maybe you should pay them more

typical ...

we have been doing this 35 years . we pay just fine thank you .
you can drive down any street and see 20 help wanted signs , it aint just trucking
And i can say from what i see unless you hand someone something 90% wont do **** to better themselves if there is a little work involved ...
If you work harder then the guy next to you , you can be anything you want in this country ... But most people just yell PAY me more for less , or i'll draw/scam unemployment ... or take the first cake job they see that requires them to do as little as possible and just scrape by ... o well ...

[Spider]

Last time I was in Laredo texas . March of this year , The mexicans were not happy about this **** either ........90% will not go past Dallas Texas

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by Spider

Last time I was in Laredo texas . March of this year , The mexicans were not happy about this **** either ........90% will not go past Dallas Texas

So Spider is this some big issue for American truckers? You say it's bad for American truckers and I will be against it.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

So Spider is this some big issue for American truckers? You say it's bad for American truckers and I will be against it.

as long as the Mexicans get treated like Canadian truckers , it is all good ......

[kappys]

Originally Posted by TDmvp

typical ...

we have been doing this 35 years . we pay just fine thank you .
you can drive down any street and see 20 help wanted signs , it aint just trucking
And i can say from what i see unless you hand someone something 90% wont do **** to better themselves if there is a little work involved ...
If you work harder then the guy next to you , you can be anything you want in this country ... But most people just yell PAY me more for less , or i'll draw/scam unemployment ... or take the first cake job they see that requires them to do as little as possible and just scrape by ... o well ...

Typical. Can't find worker's to take lower wages so better to critisize the whole lot of them as lazy, shiftless, no good trash.

There is no entitlement to cheap labor in this country.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by baja

You are such an ignorant person and you show it almost every time you type something.

With almost 25 years of living in Mexico and sharing roads with Mexican trucks I can assure you from direct experience that on occasion they drive rigs with out good brakes, bad tires, badly cracked wind shilds, one headlight, no tail lights all these things I see regularly. Not to mention our road signs are in ENGLISH. Some things you should have a healthy fear or and this is one of them. And you can bet that stream of illegals will turn to a raging river under this program. You have to be pretty special to be called an idiot by me so you have accomplished something.

The things you have to defend to be a Bush loyalist, eh?

[Spider]

Originally Posted by kappys

Typical. Can't find worker's to take lower wages so better to critisize the whole lot of them as lazy, shiftless, no good trash.

There is no entitlement to cheap labor in this country.

Cut TD some slack , he was raised by an old school trucker , even more old schooled then me , Back in the day we got paid damn good , but it was on us to service our own trucks , adjust our brakes , change filters etc ....... Now days alot of drivers consider it hard ass work to get out and open their own trailer doors ..... Back in the day we used to be some bad ass people , unload our own trailers , change our own tires ( those damn things are heavy)No power steering , 2 gear shifts 4&5 marriage boxes were popular , can you imagine shifting 20 times , just to get to speed limit ? and we wanted ot do these things cause it is our lives going down the road , we wanted everything done right , on the same hand we demanded some high pay ....... Sad to say now days you got fat asses , that feel they deserve 40 cents a mile cause they managed to keep all 18 tires on the ground and didnt kill anyone .......I wont touch a steering wheel for anything under 20.00 per hour , but you also get someone that will do his own work saving you shop cost .........

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by Spider

as long as the Mexicans get treated like Canadian truckers , it is all good ......

OK I'm not sure how Canadians get treated though. They way I see it you just pull over and inspect the Mexican trucks you see and handle biz if they aren't up to snuff.

For sure a bunch of accidents involving unsafe Mexican truckers would bother me and probably change my mind but everywhere you read there is a shortage of truckers.

Besides if people don't think there are thousands of illegals driving trucks in the USA right now you are crazy.

I'm no trucker though so for sure Spider is the authority on this. Sounds to me like he doesn't think this is some huge issue for the country. Am I wrong about that Spider?

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by baja

You are such an ignorant person and you show it almost every time you type something.

With almost 25 years of living in Mexico and sharing roads with Mexican trucks I can assure you from direct experience that on occasion they drive rigs with out good brakes, bad tires, badly cracked wind shilds, one headlight, no tail lights all these things I see regularly. Not to mention our road signs are in ENGLISH. Some things you should have a healthy fear or and this is one of them. And you can bet that stream of illegals will turn to a raging river under this program. You have to be pretty special to be called an idiot by me so you have accomplished something.

Whatever this is coming from the guy who says the avian flu is being designed to kill us all off.

First I'm not ignorant because I say I don't feel this is a big issue. Now if I didn't know what the issue was that would be ignorance. By the way the roads are already filled in California with Mexican truckers, companies hire illegals for that work all the time. Any truck with no headlights, no brakes, would not make it by any inspection station. Even our truckers are checked to make sure trucks are safe.

It doesn't bother me that you think I'm an idiot. If you feel you have accomplished something then be proud of yourself. Just don't let it stop you from preparing for that nasty flu.

Funny you could even care about a some trucks brakes being out when you know a huge weaponized avian flu will soon be spread all over the world. I mean are truckers really an issue considering that baja?

[TDmvp]

Originally Posted by Spider

Cut TD some slack , he was raised by an old school trucker , even more old schooled then me , Back in the day we got paid damn good , but it was on us to service our own trucks , adjust our brakes , change filters etc ....... Now days alot of drivers consider it hard ass work to get out and open their own trailer doors ..... Back in the day we used to be some bad ass people , unload our own trailers , change our own tires ( those damn things are heavy)No power steering , 2 gear shifts 4&5 marriage boxes were popular , can you imagine shifting 20 times , just to get to speed limit ? and we wanted ot do these things cause it is our lives going down the road , we wanted everything done right , on the same hand we demanded some high pay ....... Sad to say now days you got fat asses , that feel they deserve 40 cents a mile cause they managed to keep all 18 tires on the ground and didnt kill anyone .......I wont touch a steering wheel for anything under 20.00 per hour , but you also get someone that will do his own work saving you shop cost .........

QFT thx Spider ....

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

OK I'm not sure how Canadians get treated though. They way I see it you just pull over and inspect the Mexican trucks you see and handle biz if they aren't up to snuff.

For sure a bunch of accidents involving unsafe Mexican truckers would bother me and probably change my mind but everywhere you read there is a shortage of truckers.

Besides if people don't think there are thousands of illegals driving trucks in the USA right now you are crazy.

I'm no trucker though so for sure Spider is the authority on this. Sounds to me like he doesn't think this is some huge issue for the country. Am I wrong about that Spider?

I have been told by my father and spider it aint that big of deal ... I even thought it was when i first heard about it ... was BIG TIME worried ... i went and ask dad is this BAD he thought i was a tool for asking and didn't understand what i was talking about and have been listening to people talk who also was clueless and i didn't understand how it has been for years and that it is just leveling the playing field and will be helpful to trucking ...

[Spider]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

OK I'm not sure how Canadians get treated though. They way I see it you just pull over and inspect the Mexican trucks you see and handle biz if they aren't up to snuff.

here is how it works with Canadians , they can haul in and out of the country , but they cant do point to point in the country for example from Denver to Boston , we cant do it in Canada either just in and out .......

For sure a bunch of accidents involving unsafe Mexican truckers would bother me and probably change my mind but everywhere you read there is a shortage of truckers.

as Baja stated and he was dead on , Mexican trucks are an accident looking for a place to happen , that will change ...... as for the shortage , we need another 256 K trucks on th road right now

Besides if people don't think there are thousands of illegals driving trucks in the USA right now you are crazy.

I'm no trucker though so for sure Spider is the authority on this. Sounds to me like he doesn't think this is some huge issue for the country. Am I wrong about that Spider?

No it wont hurt us , it will hurt mexico more if americans go in , Mexico will have to upgrade their entire infrastructure , Mexican truckstops will have to get Co data , T check , EFS , etc ...... alot of growing pains

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by Bob

Amen -- so where are the R's outrage at their party's ignorance on this issue? Or do they only come out against the other club when they screwup?

The 2 people in this thread who are actually in the trucking industry say there is nothing to worry about. People just fear change that's all. That's what makes the fact all you have to do is mention change and your a front runner for President so ironic.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by Bob

Amen -- so where are the R's outrage at their party's ignorance on this issue? Or do they only come out against the other club when they screwup?

Are you kidding me?

They voted for Bush in '04 knowing Dim Son wanted amnesty and work visas for illegals - what's a few Mexican truckers?

[DenverBrit]

Originally Posted by Spider

here is how it works with Canadians , they can haul in and out of the country , but they cant do point to point in the country for example from Denver to Boston , we cant do it in Canada either just in and out

Same as the Merchant Marine worldwide is (or used to be).
Bring cargo in, unload. Pick cargo up and leave.
But no foreign flag pick up and delivery of cargo inside home waters (the borders).