Jack_Berry
Moderator Emeritus
Folks in Washington need to hear from you!
Yesterday the U.S. DOT released a “Concept Document” that it contends will serve as a starting point for renewed negotiations with Mexico regarding a potential future cross-border trucking program. While this document is not a formal proposal for a new program it is a big step in that direction.
Initial reactions to this document from Mexican officials seem to indicate that they are going to step up their pressure on the U.S. government to open the border to Mexican trucking companies and drivers.
The top, experienced Mexican drivers make 13 cents per mile and a $20 per diem. You would be kidding yourself if you think a large scale pilot program won’t significantly affect you. At the very least it will weigh down rates, but it will also very likely impact the availability of loads as shippers and brokers move towards the significantly reduced transportation costs that Mexican truckers will offer.
Please start talking to your elected representatives in Washington now as this issue will undoubtedly come to a head sometime in the near future. Establishing a dialogue with lawmakers and their staff now will ensure that those folks will pay attention to your concerns when the day comes that the Obama Administration produces a new trucking program for Mexican companies and drivers.
To reach your Senators and your Representative in the House, call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, provide the operator with your home zip code. The operator will connect you with the offices of your elected representatives.
To write and/or fax to your Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
To write and/or fax to your U.S. Representative:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
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There are many different reasons why a trucking program with Mexico is a bad idea. The following are just a few things that public officials need to know:
- The burden should be on Mexico to raise the regulatory standards of their trucking industry, not on the U.S. to lower ours or find ways to accommodate their trucking companies and drivers.
- Every year, U.S. truckers are burdened with new safety, security and environmental regulations. Those regulations come with considerable compliance costs. Mexico-domiciled trucking companies and drivers do not contend with a similar regulatory regime in their home country nor must they contend with the corresponding regulatory compliance costs that burden U.S. truckers.
- To date Mexico has failed to institute regulations and enforcement programs that are even remotely similar to those in the United States.
- To ensure the safety and security of U.S. citizens, Mexico-domiciled trucking companies and truck drivers must be required to comply with the same level of safety, security and environmental standards that already apply to U.S.-based companies and drivers, NOT ONLY WHILE OPERATING IN THE U.S. BUT ALSO IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.
- Without a level playing field with Mexico, thousands of U.S. jobs will be lost if a cross-border trucking program is initiated at this time.
In addition to contacting lawmakers on Capitol Hill, please call, write, fax the US Trade Representative and other public officials and make your voice heard!
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative:
USTR’s Intergovernmental Affairs & Public Liaison office: (202) 395-6120
FAX: (202) 395-3692
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk
Office of the United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20508
U.S. Department of Commerce:
Secretary Gary Locke
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20230
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 482-2000
International Trade Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
Phone: (800) 872-8723
U.S. Department of Transportation:
Secretary Ray LaHood
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Suite W60-300
Washington, DC 20590
President Obama:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Comments: (202) 456-1111
FAX: (202) 456-2461
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
------------------------------------------
THANK YOU!
Yesterday the U.S. DOT released a “Concept Document” that it contends will serve as a starting point for renewed negotiations with Mexico regarding a potential future cross-border trucking program. While this document is not a formal proposal for a new program it is a big step in that direction.
Initial reactions to this document from Mexican officials seem to indicate that they are going to step up their pressure on the U.S. government to open the border to Mexican trucking companies and drivers.
The top, experienced Mexican drivers make 13 cents per mile and a $20 per diem. You would be kidding yourself if you think a large scale pilot program won’t significantly affect you. At the very least it will weigh down rates, but it will also very likely impact the availability of loads as shippers and brokers move towards the significantly reduced transportation costs that Mexican truckers will offer.
Please start talking to your elected representatives in Washington now as this issue will undoubtedly come to a head sometime in the near future. Establishing a dialogue with lawmakers and their staff now will ensure that those folks will pay attention to your concerns when the day comes that the Obama Administration produces a new trucking program for Mexican companies and drivers.
To reach your Senators and your Representative in the House, call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, provide the operator with your home zip code. The operator will connect you with the offices of your elected representatives.
To write and/or fax to your Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
To write and/or fax to your U.S. Representative:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
------------------
There are many different reasons why a trucking program with Mexico is a bad idea. The following are just a few things that public officials need to know:
- The burden should be on Mexico to raise the regulatory standards of their trucking industry, not on the U.S. to lower ours or find ways to accommodate their trucking companies and drivers.
- Every year, U.S. truckers are burdened with new safety, security and environmental regulations. Those regulations come with considerable compliance costs. Mexico-domiciled trucking companies and drivers do not contend with a similar regulatory regime in their home country nor must they contend with the corresponding regulatory compliance costs that burden U.S. truckers.
- To date Mexico has failed to institute regulations and enforcement programs that are even remotely similar to those in the United States.
- To ensure the safety and security of U.S. citizens, Mexico-domiciled trucking companies and truck drivers must be required to comply with the same level of safety, security and environmental standards that already apply to U.S.-based companies and drivers, NOT ONLY WHILE OPERATING IN THE U.S. BUT ALSO IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.
- Without a level playing field with Mexico, thousands of U.S. jobs will be lost if a cross-border trucking program is initiated at this time.
In addition to contacting lawmakers on Capitol Hill, please call, write, fax the US Trade Representative and other public officials and make your voice heard!
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative:
USTR’s Intergovernmental Affairs & Public Liaison office: (202) 395-6120
FAX: (202) 395-3692
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk
Office of the United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20508
U.S. Department of Commerce:
Secretary Gary Locke
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20230
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 482-2000
International Trade Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
Phone: (800) 872-8723
U.S. Department of Transportation:
Secretary Ray LaHood
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Suite W60-300
Washington, DC 20590
President Obama:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Comments: (202) 456-1111
FAX: (202) 456-2461
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
------------------------------------------
THANK YOU!
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