Mexican Trucks and Bus's

[greg334]

Dave,
I think we need to separate the different issues.

1- this is a bus. they are not regulated as a truck is and are not targeted as trucks are. Don't give a crap what others say if they are regulated, when was the last time you seen a greyhound sitting on the side of the road with a trooper behind it being issued a ticket for speeding or reckless driving?

1a - I don't know but it sometimes appears to be more bus accidents than truck accidents where people lose their lives. In one case in Atlanta a few years ago a bus driver was flying down I75 and ended up going over a bridge because (and we don't really know this for a fact) he mistook the HOV exit for a regular lane. The knee jerk was not to blame the driver for speeding and driving in the wrong lane but to blame the design of the exit and road.

2 - the driver may have been from Mexico, but so? The origins of the person behind the wheel means little until you take in account the number of Canadian truck drivers (not just native Canadians but also Indians and Pakistanis) who are unsafe (heaven forbid ) and the number of truck drivers who are from Eastern Europe/Russia/Africa and can't speak or write English let alone drive safely (not most but a lot of them can't).

3 - Mexico is a corrupt state, it is in need of a lot of fixing but it is not run by the people, so I understand why on one hand you won't see real reforms to their transportation industry but on the other I see why we are giving them millions to fix something that isn't fixable - we are stupid as a country.

4 - There are a lot of Mexicans who are professional and try really hard to work within the system we have here, but alas just like this industry, the few ruin it for the many.

 

[highway star]

Did you read it, the driver was from Mexico. The company maybe based out of Los Angeles, Ca, but the bus was from Mexico. You guys are missing the point, do you want unsafe trucks or bus's from Mexico here in the states. My one truck right behind this accident for hours.

Yes, I did read it. It didn't say anything about the nationality of the driver. It did say that the Los Angeles based bus started its trip in central Mexico. So, this bus is subject to the same rules and regulations as Greyhound or any other U.S. bus company.

 

[Bruno]

Maybe you missed my point Bruno...they are already here it is called Greyhound...they have some old pieces of crap out there as well....It is the rules that govern from within...

OVM I think you maybe right on that when it comes to Greyhound. Those guys drive like a crazy wild man sometimes.

 

[Bruno]

Yes, I did read it. It didn't say anything about the nationality of the driver. It did say that the Los Angeles based bus started its trip in central Mexico. So, this bus is subject to the same rules and regulations as Greyhound or any other U.S. bus company.

Highway all I'm saying is I don't want their junk trucks or bus's on our highways. I don't think a Mexican driver that don't meet the same qualifications as a US or Canada drivers have should be on our highways. They need to speak English for starts. This driver hit the back of a pickup truck. Sound liketo me he fell asleep at the wheel.

 

[highway star]

Highway all I'm saying is I don't want their junk trucks or bus's on our highways. I don't think a Mexican driver that don't meet the same qualifications as a US or Canada drivers have should be on our highways. They need to speak English for starts. This driver hit the back of a pickup truck. Sound liketo me he fell asleep at the wheel.

So, this brings me back to my original question. How does this example support your concern? American bus and truck drivers have rear ended vehicles in this very fashion. They've had every type of accident you can come up with, roll overs, running off the road into the woods or the median, you name it.

When I'm in Texas, I see these Mexican tour buses and the ones I see are often very new looking and appear to be in good operating order. Some appear to be older. The same can be said of U.S. bus companies.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I am with Star...I've seen some sweet Mexican buses and some not so sweet....even a few Mexican Cargo Vans Expedite that seemed roadworthy...

on the flipside...I've not seen a new greyhound bus for awhile most seemed bumped up and older style with broken tail lights and spewing VERY black exhaust...accidents? NY girls baseball/hockey team is recent last year....bus driver rear ends TT so many young people killed.

I've seen some scuzzzy US TT and straight as well.....

 

[LDB]

There are horrible vehicles and there are show class vehicles in every society. The point isn't to ban all Mexican vehicles due to quality, it's to ban them due to sovereignty and employment reasons. When every U.S. citizen has a job and there are jobs remaining undone then it's time to give jobs to citizens of other nations. Not until then.

 

[greg334]

I want to know something.

If a driver from a foreign country wants to drive here, why does he have to know English?

If you go to say Russia or Japan, do you have to know the language to drive?

 

[wimpy007]

You think rates are down now, let the Mexican truck run in the US. You will see how low the rates will get. NO WAY

 

[layoutshooter]

I want to know something.

If a driver from a foreign country wants to drive here, why does he have to know English?

If you go to say Russia or Japan, do you have to know the language to drive?

I know that at least when I lived in Japan and England you did expect for two circumstances: first you are there under a Statute of Forces agreement or two you were there for a short vacation. When we lived in England I was able to drive on my Michigan drivers license but my wife was not allowed to do so after the first year. After that she either had to leave the country for 24 hours and return with a new passport stamp or get a British drivers license.

 

[LDB]

I want to know something.

If a driver from a foreign country wants to drive here, why does he have to know English?

Anyone driving in any country needs to know enough of the language to handle every road sign and written communication possible to be encountered while driving.

Anyone driving for pay needs to be fluent enough in the host nation language to converse clearly and coherently with every individual they come in contact with or may come in contact with in the course of their work, including but not limited to dispatchers, shippers, consignees, police and any others.

That's why some level of language proficiency should be mandatory for all drivers with the level based on the individual. Luigi who's here on vacation for 11 days doesn't need to be as proficient as Dimitry who is here indefintely working as a driver.