Thread: U.S. truck drivers don't want to drive in Mexico

U.S. truck drivers don't want to drive in Mexico
Pamela J. Chapman - Lexington, Ga.

I am an American truck driver and have been for seven years. I feel compelled to respond to the debate about prohibiting Mexican trucks from transporting goods in the USA ("Mexican truck ban hurts U.S. exporters, consumers," Our view, Free trade debate, Wednesday).


(Trade war: After funding was pulled for a pilot project allowing Mexican trucks to deliver goods in the USA, Mexico imposed tariffs on U.S. exports./ Rebecca Cook, Reuters)


I am not a member of the Teamsters Union. I do feel, however, that the union's stance on the situation, "Keep Mexican trucks out," is more in line with mine (Opposing view).

I have dealt with Mexican drivers because my company has a division in Mexico. We take product to the border towns, and the Mexican drivers pick it up, driving across the border in our trailers. Then they return the trailers with their product. It is true that it is hard to regulate those drivers in the same way we are regulated. I have seen many of them driving unsafely, speeding, taking illegal turns and not staying in their lanes.

When it costs more, not less, to locate a business outside the country, our citizens will have the jobs that we have given to the Mexicans. USA TODAY's editorial board needs to talk to truck drivers who have experience with this issue and not rely solely on the statistics cited in its opinion.

If you took a poll of truckers, you would find most of us don't want the Mexican trucks here. I think all freight in the U.S. should be driven by U.S. drivers and swapped at the borders. I have no desire to drive in either Canada or Mexico.
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Risks of crossing border
Belinda Blacketer - South Beach, Ore.

I am a "commodities redistribution engineer" (formerly known as a truck driver) and would never dream of taking any one of my 18 wheels across the southern border.

There is a high security risk for a vehicle valued at $110,000 hauling a trailer worth $35,000 and filled with freight. Mexico is rife with desperados, not necessarily connected to the drug cartels, who would take the opportunity to loot my truck, trailer and freight.

Also, the best highways in Mexico are in no way comparable even to our worst. I cannot afford the additional maintenance costs that would be required after crossing even 100 miles of highway in that country.

Further, there are arrangements between Mexican carriers and domestic companies under which trailers are dropped at the border, taken across by the Mexican carriers, unloaded, reloaded then returned. This has worked for years.
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For the working man
Mike Stapleton, President, Teamsters Local 385 - Orlando

I read USA TODAY's editorial on the Mexican border trucking issue and admit, I am amazed. There was not even a feeble attempt to hide the anti-working person animus. Rarely have I read an editorial that seemed so against blue-collar workers.

Teamsters are not some third-party boogeymen. I am a Teamster. I drove for more than 20 years. My supporters are not "enablers." I went to the polls and elected my congressmen as did everyone else. When I have an issue, I contact my congressmen as does everyone else. USA TODAY's mischaracterization of Teamsters paints a negative picture of what many voters do when they ask their elected officials for help.

Many cops are Teamsters, and we lobby for law enforcement legislation. Does that make us criminals? Many truckers are Teamsters, and we lobby for highway safety issues. Does that make us bad drivers? Workers across America are Teamsters and we lobby on their behalf constantly because the working men and women are what made this country great.


Posted at 12:10 AM/ET, April 07, 2009 in Letter to the editor | Permalink
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American truckers unite. Communicate and organize to secure your jobs before it too late. Realize that other American Citizens have been effected by the undocumented immigrants for over twenty years, now. Everyone has to do their part.

I don't blame them, I wouldn't want to drive into a lawless, third world country either. End this sorry program!

Originally Posted by miguelina

I don't blame them, I wouldn't want to drive into a lawless, third world country either. End this sorry program!

Can you imagine? Their truck stolen, all of the products they were carrying stolen, and the driver kidnapped and tortured, held for ransom or killed. Driving a truck doesn't pay that much.

U.S. truck drivers don't want to drive in Mexico

How come that doesn't come as a shock to most when they hear such claims?

Originally Posted by bigtex

Originally Posted by miguelina

I don't blame them, I wouldn't want to drive into a lawless, third world country either. End this sorry program!

Can you imagine? Their truck stolen, all of the products they were carrying stolen, and the driver kidnapped and tortured, held for ransom or killed. Driving a truck doesn't pay that much.

How about we pay the truck drivers premium pay, like Halliburton does for civilian truck drivers in Iraq. Unfortunately, Mexico is more dangerous than Iraq. I just think it's sad when MSM reports on a certain issue like truck drivers, without consulting any truck drivers. "Hey, lets do a story on Astronomy and we'll get our local zoologist to talk about it!"

Stinkin' idiots!

I would no more drive a truck to Mexico than I would drive it off a cliff.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

I would no more drive a truck to Mexico than I would drive it off a cliff.

Living just 5 hours from the border, I wouldn't even drive my own car across the border.