I think there is a much better way to solve this issue. Trucks past a
certain age should not be allowed past the Border. It is not economically
sound for a Mexican Trucking company to send a trashed, overused, and
outdated truck to travel 1000-3000 into the U.S. Fleets always keep their
truck maintained, both for efficiency and to maintain warranties. A truck
has a half life of 5 years, and are usually swapped out within this time.
This would also discourage the Mexican independent truckers from traveling
through the U.S., but not restrict them.
The converse is true as well. This prevents the practice of sending our old
used vehicles to Mexico. If US fleets and Indies want to travel to Mexico,
they need to have newer trucks as well (two-way truck age inspections). This
will prevent passing this problem to the Mexican people, where our unwanted
surplus of used trucks near the end of their effective life, are
grandfathered for use in Mexico.
Also, no one seems concerned for the threat NAFTA presents to the Mexican
Nation, if American fleets and Indies can squeeze the last bit of profit out
of a truck by driving it in Mexico. Trucks not considered safe here, will be
dumped onto the Mexicans, so that they can get into the proclaimed head-ons,
roll-overs, and roadside chemical spills. Better there than here! Why do
the Mexicans drive older trucks? Because we send them our crappy used trucks
to buy. Don't tell me its because of the economic conditions there.
Shipping, while razor-thin on profit margin, can be profitable, and can
benefit from the same advantages a new truck brings to a Fleet or Indie. If
it is profitable, they can afford new trucks. But since we now restrict
Mexican trucks for long-haul use in the U.S., they really cannot realize the
benefits of having a new, well maintained, long-haul trucks.
If Mexico is allowed to do long-haul, it means that they will be buying
trucks. They would be buying American trucks. Is this a bad thing? So
America sells trucks to the Mexicans for use in the U.S., they buy Diesel
from us, have service done in the US, buy parts in the US.
The facts are that Mexican drivers are more eager to run trucks at a lower
profit margin than their American counterparts. With Diesel prices, the
laws, and truck age being equal, a Mexican Fleet can ship cheaper than an
American fleet. Who does this threaten? The Teamsters for one. Everyone
benefits except them.
If a limit is set to only allow trucks less than a certain age, this should
take out the safety issues regarding the trucks themselves. It the Mexican
truck drivers are bound by the same rules for hours of permitted operation,
then this should resolve many of the concerns of driver safety. Unless the
Democrats want to assert that Mexican drivers are worse drivers than
American drivers, this plan should resolve many, if not all of the concerns
related to this issue. It also protects the Mexican nation from the problems
we dump on them.
Nerd From Hell
"WorldSecure <Freightliner.com>" made the following
annotations on 08/02/01 13:38:33
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