Thread: Plan to let Mexican trucks deeper into U.S. hits snag

3:27 p.m. March 22, 2007

WASHINGTON – Mexican trucks could have to wait longer than anticipated to haul freight deep into the United States.
The Bush administration in February announced that it would soon allow 100 Mexican trucking companies to travel beyond the current 20-mile limit for a one-year pilot project.



Advertisement But a Senate panel on Thursday voted to delay the plan by requiring the administration to publish details about it and giving the public time to comment on it. The action came as part of a supplemental spending bill to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The administration is rushing to open the border to Mexican-domiciled trucks without assuring their safety and enforcement of the law of the U.S.,” said Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen. “They can't go rushing forward in opening the border without having explained what their pilot project is.”

The Transportation Department said it is committed to moving forward with the program and will work with lawmakers to address their concerns.

“The Mexican trucking demonstration program will bring real benefits and real dollars to the American economy while maintaining all U.S. safety and security standards,” the department said in a statement.

Democratic Sens. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Dianne Feinstein of California and Patty Murray of Washington sponsored the amendment.

“There still remain very significant safety issues,” Dorgan said.

He also criticized the Bush administration for opening the border to Mexican trucks before Mexico opened the border to U.S. trucks. “They were going to implement these plans for Mexican long-haul trucks in a way that was at odds with how the Mexicans were going to treat American truckers,” Dorgan said.

The move to delay the administration plan was welcomed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

“This is an important first step in our fight to ensure the safety and security of America's highways,” said Teamsters spokeswoman Leigh Strope.

Access to all U.S. highways was promised by 2000 under the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement, as was access through Mexico for U.S. carriers.

That aspect of NAFTA, however, was stalled by lawsuits and disagreements between the two countries, though Canadian and U.S. trucks travel freely across the northern border.

The Bush pilot project will let Mexican truck companies travel from Mexico throughout the United States and back. No hazardous material shipments will be permitted.



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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexi ... rucks.html

This is great news.

The Mexican trucking demonstration program will bring real benefits and real dollars to the American economy while maintaining all U.S. safety and security standards,” the department said in a statement.

Do they ever get tired of lying, what a alot of hog wash!!!
How about a little truth once in a while.

But a Senate panel on Thursday voted to delay the plan by requiring the administration to publish details about it and giving the public time to comment on it.

OK Fellow Activists---time to make yourselves heard to the Senate!

Added to Homepage

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... e&sid=2039

Thank God! This is wonderful news! Lets let our voices be heard! Comment away America!!!!!!

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

The Mexican trucking demonstration program will bring real benefits and real dollars to the American economy while maintaining all U.S. safety and security standards,” the department said in a statement.

Do they ever get tired of lying, what a alot of hog wash!!!
How about a little truth once in a while.

Yea, wasant NAFTA supposed to the do the same thing?

what a crock, I am sick and tired of OUR government thinking we are all STUPID and IGNORANT!!

Senate Panel Heeds Teamster Demand to Keep Border Closed to Mexican Trucks





Senate Committee Vote is Important Step in Fight to Secure America's Highways


Contact: Leigh Strope
(202) 624-6911
March 23, 2007

(Washington, D.C.) – The Teamsters scored a significant victory today in the fight to stop President Bush's reckless plan to open the United States' border to unsafe Mexican trucks, with a key Senate committee voting to block the pilot project.

"The 1.4 million members of the Teamsters Union were heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill today," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "This is an important first step in our fight to keep America's highways safe and secure."

The Senate Appropriations Committee blocked funding for the dangerous pilot program by passing an amendment requiring the Transportation Department to publish details of the plan and to provide time for public comment. The committee also voted to require that the pilot project meet congressionally mandated safety and security standards.

The Bush administration is trying to circumvent those safety requirements by repackaging the plan as a pilot project, allowing 100 Mexican trucking firms open access to U.S. highways, putting American drivers at risk.

The amendment was sponsored by Democratic Sens. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Dianne Feinstein of California and Patty Murray of Washington.

"The Teamsters Union has successfully led the battle to keep our border closed for the past 12 years, and we will not let up in our fight as this measure moves through Congress," Hoffa said. "I want to thank our allies on Capitol Hill for standing strong for highway safety."

Hearings in both the Senate and House have revealed that too many questions remain about how the Bush administration's dangerous experiment will be carried out, the Transportation Department's ability to inspect trucks and the Mexican government's ability to meet U.S. standards for regulating hours of service, driver training and licensing.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is the nation's largest transportation union, representing 1.4 million hardworking women and men throughout the United States and Canada
http://www.teamster.org/07news/nr_070323_1.asp

I'm a born American with a ligitamate truck drivers license.
WHY DO I NEED A CDL? Mexicans don't need one!

In the immortal words of Clara Peller, "Where's the Beef", I say...
WHERE'S MY FREE CDL?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


On the other hand,...
ATT: AMERICAN truckers.
You can stop this problem by surrounding these
Mexican trucks and (conviently) breaking down.
If they can't deliver there goods on time...
well U know .

FM, we're Americans, and we have to jump through hoops, so our prices for trucking are too expensive, and the Mexican truckers will be able to undercut our men and women. And then the Bushite's can point the finger and say it's another job that Americans aren't willing to do.