Elimination of U.S. Pilot Truck Program Triggers Mexican Tariffs

[BrianR]

My territory.

The main arguments are safety (unsubstantiated), job protection(also unsubstantiated) and somehow this is Bush's fault (it's not, blame Clinton, he signed NAFTA). Mexican trucks are all inspected at the border, Their out of service rate IS less than ours. While in the USA, Mexican drivers must abide by our rules. The only valid safety point is that it is possible for a Mexican driver to use two logbooks, one for the US and another for Mexico, to drive more than the allowed hours per day.

The unions are worried about the job loss, but the Canadians have been running here under the same rules and have taken no jobs.

The shrill refusal to admit our part in the treaty, signed years ago and only now are we beginning to live up to our obligations as we have required others to do. We either obey our own treaty or we should repeal it.

The Cross Border Demonstration Project has been defunded through the fiscal 2009 budget. What this means to NAFTA remains to be seen. I am watching.

Originally Posted by BrianR

My territory.

The main arguments are safety (unsubstantiated), job protection(also unsubstantiated) and somehow this is Bush's fault (it's not, blame Clinton, he signed NAFTA). Mexican trucks are all inspected at the border, Their out of service rate IS less than ours. While in the USA, Mexican drivers must abide by our rules. The only valid safety point is that it is possible for a Mexican driver to use two logbooks, one for the US and another for Mexico, to drive more than the allowed hours per day.

The unions are worried about the job loss, but the Canadians have been running here under the same rules and have taken no jobs.

The shrill refusal to admit our part in the treaty, signed years ago and only now are we beginning to live up to our obligations as we have required others to do. We either obey our own treaty or we should repeal it.

The Cross Border Demonstration Project has been defunded through the fiscal 2009 budget. What this means to NAFTA remains to be seen. I am watching.

Wasnt it a one year demonstration project implemented in FY 08....with the US having the right to extend it for two years?

I dont doubt that US labor is opposed to it...but why should it be automatically extended?

Is it also correct that Mexico has no mandatory drug/alcohol testing for CDLs? We may inspect the vehicles for safety violations at the border but do we test the drivers?

I dont know the answer to these questions...just asking.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Pilot programs are always limited in scope and under a magnifying glass by lots of concerned parties, so everyone involved is on their best behavior.
The problems arise when the pilot program has been declared a success, then the gates are thrown open to all. At the same time, most of the people that had magnifying glasses walk away and leave the poor understaffed agencies to deal with it.