Thread: Where the Mexican trucks go...

Mexican trucks haul cargo in U.S.
Wire reports
Monday, September 10, 2007


More National/World
Los Alamos scientist creates gun that can collect crime scene evidence
Ceremonies, politics mark Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
Analysis: 'Victory' slinks to exit door
MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES
Albuquerque elementary substitute wanted in connection with voyeuristic videos
09:35 a.m., September 11, 2007
Seeing: Lady bug racer
09:23 a.m., September 11, 2007
NFL: The message is clear: Keep your head up
09:07 a.m., September 11, 2007
NFL: Smith leads 49ers to last-minute win
08:55 a.m., September 11, 2007
New Mexico members of Congress divided on Petraeus' withdrawal talk
08:51 a.m., September 11, 2007


TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*
Rio Rancho remembers the cop who died a hero (New Mexico DUI Lawyer)
Mexico - Welcome to Casa del Mar, Playa del Carmen
Apple’s Steve Jobs apologizes for drop in iPhone price (New Mexico ...
Press Release Tips and Template (New Mexico Divorce Lawyer)
Albuquerque substitute teacher’s hidden camera to be investigated

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS
E-mail story
Comments
iPod friendly
Printer friendly


SHARE THIS STORY [?]
MEXICO CITY — Two Mexican tractor-trailers have delivered steel construction materials to companies in New York and South Carolina under a NAFTA-mandated program that has drawn opposition from U.S. truckers.

The trucks, operated by Transportes Olympic, a company based the northern city of Monterrey, crossed the border on Friday, and will carry U.S. steel construction products from Arkansas and Alabama back to Mexico, Transportation Secretary Luis Tellez said Sunday.
http://abqtrib.com/news/2007/sep/10/mex ... -cargo-us/

First Mexican truck in U.S. delivers load to N.C. Monday; awaiting possible return load from Arkansas or Alabama


The first Mexican truck to enter the U.S. may pick up return loads in Arkansas and Alabama.
The Trucker News Services

9/10/2007


WILSON, N.C. — A Mexican cargo truck delivered a load of construction steel here early Monday under a long-delayed NAFTA-mandated program allowing Mexican and U.S. trucks unlimited access within each others' borders and may pick up a load on the return trip.



The American-made Freightliner 2007 arrived at the Building System company in Wilson before dawn Monday and was waiting to unload the cargo early Monday afternoon, said Jose Gil, manager of operations for Transportes Olympic, the northern Mexican company that owns the truck.



The company is awaiting word from clients in Arkansas and Alabama to see if the truck will return to Mexico with U.S. steel products, Gil said.



When contacted by The Trucker Monday afternoon, Gil would not officially identify the companies in Arkansas and Alabama.



However, based on the conversations with Gil and with reliable sources in the steel industry, the company in Arkansas was identified as Nucor Steel — Arkansas, located in Blytheville in northeast Arkansas near the Missouri border on Interstate 55.



Nucor Steel — Arkansas is part of the Nucor Corp., which produces steel and steel products, according to the company’s Web site.



The Arkansas facility produces hot-rolled sheet steel, the Web site said.



Nucor Corp. also has facilities in Birmingham, Ala., and Fort Payne, Ala., according to the Web site.



On the trip into the U.S., driver Luis Gonzalez pulled up to the border across from Laredo, Texas, about 10:30 p.m. Friday and following a lengthy inspection crossed into the United States about 12:50 a.m. Saturday, Gil said.



On Thursday, the U.S. Transportation Department granted permission to Transportes Olympic to haul cargo anywhere in the United States as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement. In turn, Mexico granted authority to Stagecoach Cartage & Distribution Inc. of El Paso, Texas, to travel throughout Mexico.



Attempts by The Trucker to reach officials at the U.S. carrier since the announcement was made have gone for naught. Repeated telephone calls have not been returned.



Since 1982, Mexican trucks have been allowed to operate in the United States only within a 40-kilometer (25-mile) zone along the border, where they transfer loads to U.S. vehicles for transport elsewhere in the country.



Unrestricted access was supposed to begin in 1995 under NAFTA, but the administration of then President Bill Clinton refused to open the border to Mexican trucks out of concern that they might be unsafe. A NAFTA arbitration panel overruled the U.S. in 2001, but lawsuits and lengthy negotiations with the Mexican government led to even more delays.



The U.S. plans to give as many as 25 Mexican firms permission to haul cargo north of the border by the end of the month, and will add another 25 per month until reaching 100 — for a total of 1,000 trucks — by year's end under a one-year pilot program. The Mexican government also has committed to allow trucks from as many as 100 U.S. firms to travel anywhere in Mexico.



Transportes Olympic, based in a suburb of the northern industrial city of Monterrey, has two trucks that qualify for the pilot program, but decided to send only one "to see how it would go" given the widespread opposition to the program, mostly from U.S. truckers, Gil said.



"It went very well," Gil said. "He had no problems."



In the U.S., the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, environmentalist group the Sierra Club and watchdog organization Public Citizen sued to stop the pilot program, saying Mexican trucks do not meet U.S. safety and environmental standards and that there would not be enough oversight of drivers crossing the border. A federal appeals court ruled that the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush could move ahead with the program.



Dozens of truckers protested at border crossings in Texas and California on Thursday, some carrying signs reading "NAFTA Kills" and "Unsafe Mexican Trucks."



In Mexico, representatives of the national trucking association have argued that most Mexican companies are not ready for cross-border long-haul trips because the government has failed to help them modernize and take other necessary steps to qualify for the program.



The Mexican government promised that help on Sunday, when it announced the start of the program.



Transportation Secretary Luis Tellez told a news conference that Transportes had sent two trucks across the border, one headed to New York and the other to South Carolina. The Transportation Department could not immediately explain the discrepancy Monday.



"This project will allow us to demonstrate in practice that door-to-door cargo shipments without intermediaries at the border will lower costs ... and increase our country's competitiveness," Tellez said.



U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza estimated that letting trucks travel freely throughout both countries would save more than US$400 million (€300 million) annually in transportation costs.



This story was compiled from information obtained by The Trucker staff and from The Associated Press
http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/ ... abama.aspx



Mexican trucks now deliver in continental U.S.

Sep 10, 2007 06:03 PM EDT




More News Headlines

Another Albany Lotto Player Strikes

$17-million housing facility dedicated at ABAC

Board votes Thursday on peanut show location

Grieving mom raises domestic violence awareness

Albany State students support Jena 6

Pedestrian vs. vehicle crash in Lee Co. is fatal

Freedom Walk begins in Donalsonville

Mitchell man still missing

Bike-riding bandit dies in jail

Keeping kids off drugs





September 10, 2007

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Two Mexican tractor-trailers have become the first trucks to operate deep in the United States under a NAFTA-mandated program that's been criticized on both sides of the border.

The trucks crossed into the United States carrying steel construction materials to New York and South Carolina and will haul similar products from Arkansas and Alabama back across the border.

The United States granted the permission Thursday as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement. In turn, Mexico granted authority to an El Paso company to travel throughout Mexico.

Since 1982, Mexican trucks have been allowed to operate in the United States only within a 25-mile zone along the border.

Unrestricted access was supposed to begin in 1995, but truckers and other groups on both sides of the border have objected to the program.

In the U.S., several groups have argued that Mexican trucks don't meet safety and environmental standards and that there wouldn't be enough oversight of drivers crossing the border.

In Mexico, truckers have argued that most Mexican companies are not ready for cross-border long-haul trips because the government has failed to help them modernize.
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=7051695

Here we go! Mexican steel imported with Mexican trucks while our own steel mills have been shut down!

Mexican trucks on our highways are a big threat to the safety of anyone on our roads. Not only do we have to worry about the illegals that are crowding up the streets that we drive everyday but now the Mexican trucks as well. We own a business that manufactures a product out of steel. I hope it does not come from one of those companies that just got the steel from Mexico. We will be monitoring where our steel is coming from.