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Mexican truckers to hit U.S. roadways next year
Transportation secretary vows to release 1-year, NAFTA pilot plan by December
Posted: September 1, 2006 © WorldNetDaily.com
WASHINGTON – Transportation Secretary Maria Cino promises to release plans within months for a one-year, NAFTA pilot program permitting Mexican truckers beyond the limited commercial zone to which they are currently restricted.
The program will likely involve about 100 Mexican trucking companies, the Department of Transportation says.
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While the American Trucking Association supports opening the border, other unions have joined in opposition with the Teamsters. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association came out this month in opposition to any Mexican truck pilot program.
Todd Spencer, the association's executive vice president, said the program would jeopardize safety on U.S. roads and would lead to an influx of cheap Mexican labor.
'A move by the U.S. Department of Transportation to open U.S. roadways to Mexican trucks puts the interest of foreign trade and cheap labor ahead of everything else, including highway safety, homeland security and the well being of hardworking Americans,' Spencer said.
In a letter to the Interstate Trade Commission, Spencer wrote: 'The net effect of admission of Mexican trucks into the U.S. marketplace would undoubtedly be negative. The supposed benefits to consumers from speculative reductions in shipping rates would be offset by the societal costs that are difficult to measure, but are easy to identify.'
Spencer told the commission that Mexican trucks are not up to U.S. safety standards, and if U.S. drivers earn less as a result of labor competition, they would have less money to invest in vehicle maintenance – leading to even more less safe trucks.
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