Opinions on NAFTA trucking case?

[TXlib]

Here is an old article that gives some good background, and here is a more recent one. Essentially, it boils down to which is more important: NAFTA provisions, or US law?

If I understand correctly:

* NAFTA would force us to open our borders to rattletrap Mexican trucks and busses, very few of which come close to passing inspection in the US, and pose a health and safety risk to US citizens.

* The foreign drivers are exempt from US laws regarding maximum daily driving hours.

* Bush is pushing to end the moratorium, allowing Mexican truckers on US roads, sidestepping all health, environmental, and safety concerns.

Am I misreading any of this? Anybody have any more input on the matter?

[NMDemDist2]

1. Phoenix freeways are scary enough already

and we already pay one of the highest auto insurance rates in the country. Just what we need is more crappy vehicles on the roads around here.

[GOPisEvil]

2. Ever drive I-35? At night?

There are TONS of semis out there. The ones registered in the US and Canada are scary enough. I don't even want to think about the ones registered in Mexico. I understand the cost to the businesses who have to transfer goods from one truck to another at the border, but the greater good of the safety of the public demands that the same rules for safety be applied. I understand the "free trade" angle of NAFTA, but there has to be corresponding safety features, including environmental laws. Having an international minimum wage would be nice, too.

[robcon]

3. I think Mexican trucks should be allowed on U.S./Canadian roads...

subject to the same truck design, safety, and inspection processes as American/Canadian trucks.

[TXlib]

5. Yes, that is the point, exactly!

They should be allowed on US and Canadian roads, BUT they MUST conform to local safety/environmental regulations, and pass inspection. I would further add that the drivers are covered by the more stringent of labor regulations either in their home country, or the country they're in. (e.g. -- Mexican drivers in the US would not be allowed to drive more than 10 hours daily, and US drivers in Mexico would also be subject to the 10-hour-daily maximum.)

[truthspeaker]

4. yet another reason NAFTA was a mistake

I think a smarter NAFTA would have been possible, but that's not what we got. We got a corporation-friendly, anti-worker version of NAFTA.

[camero]

6. When I went to Canada

I still had to conform to US law and not Canadian law. Likewise for the Canadians. They still had to go by their 12 hours on and 6 hours in the sleeper. But the Mexican trucks have no maximum driving hours or inspection requirements. Until Mexico brings their laws up to at least what ours are, they should not be allowed any farther than what they are now, which is 20 miles from the border.

And alot of companies even here teach drivers how to cheat on their logs, it was one of the very first things I learned. You could not get the good paying runs unless you did. I'll feel much better about the whole thing when the US can get their house in order and make sure that trucking is not the American Sweatshop anymore.

If anyone wonders what the freeps have in store for us. Look at trucking.

[WVhill]

7. That's the real problem.

When you add all the hours a driver spends waiting to the actual driving hours, many drivers aren't making much more than minimum wage.

[camero]

8. That's why I think trucking should be under the FLSA

Fair Labor Standards act. Those up all day drive all night runs were hell. Even at the minimum it would work better but they would have to be paid for all the time spent away from home because basically the driver is responsible for the load and vehicle on a 24/7 basis while on the road.

It would be very nice for them to be paid for all the work they acutally do.