New threat to American jobs

[freethefly 6]

http://articles.ky3.com/2011-01-07/mexican-trucks_27017004

A good indication of how the economy is doing is how many trucks you see on the road. A lot of big rigs is a good thing.

I was talking to the guy who lives up on side on 7 acres of some of the best deer woods. You'll see 10 or more on any given day. Sadly, his wife Joyce won't allow me to hunt it. Well, Bob is a trucker. Long distance driver/owner.
When I moved in to my place here in Mount Vernon,Mo., Bob owned 4 trucks that moved. Today he his down to the one truck that he drives. It hasn't moved in near two weeks. He lost the other 3 in 06-08 as companies began leaving Southern Mo..
He was doing regular maintenance when I pulled in on the bike. I could see him through the section of downed fence where a near 100mph straight line wind took it down.
Bob is 65yo and has owned his own trucks for more than 20 years. He's had one heart attack that required two stints. Pays high insurance premiums. He also pay high premiums and taxes to keep his truck on the the road. Those payment are coming due. He cleared $159,000. last year. It cost him more than $90,000. to operate his truck last year. Maintenance and repairs are costly. Fuel cost is high.

He said he is having to drive further out to pick up loads. Often running lite. If he ain't carrying weight he ain't making money. Fears that the Mexican driver will put most truckers around here out of business. A lot of the truckers around here run material to the borders and run finished products back up to the distribution centers such the Wal Mart warehouses.

This is without doubt a bad idea for so many reasons. What's next? Foreign airlines dominating our skies?
Cheap trucking thanks to GHW Bush and Clinton. Great for the corporations and Mexican truckers. Bad news for Bob. Him and Joyce, his wife, put the home up on the market 2 weeks ago. Nice place, wooded with plenty of deer coming through.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

I'm not sure what your post means.

I drive for a living (company driver not owner-operator). The business has been tough recently. Freight is way down. I saw a roughly 20% drop in miles (and since I get paid by the mile, income) in 09. I didn't make any of my (miles based) bonuses, for the first time since I started. It's started to come back a bit, but I have been told that freight is down 25% because of the economic slowdown, and capacity (trucks on the road) is down around 20%. That has nothing to do with NAFTA.

The rules set by NAFTA are pretty simple for trucks. I can deliver US freight into Canada, I can pick up US bound freight in Canada and deliver it in the US or I can take a shortcut through Canada with freight going from a point in the US to a point in the US. (think New England to Wisconsin or Minnesota). Technically I can't even move an empty trailer within Canada and trade it for a trailer loaded with freight waiting for me (that's called "Drop and Hook").

Canadian drivers have reciprocal rules.

Mexican drivers are supposed to be able to do the same, but fears of dangerous equipment, poorly trained drivers, and wage disparity have caused various groups to pressure the government to refuse to live up to their NAFTA commitments.

Those fears have legitimate roots, but have been (surprise, surprise, surprise) blown way out of proportion.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[airdvr 210]

Old news. People have been afraid of Mexican trucks for years.

What we really should be afraid of is the government regulations that make it almost impossible to manufacture a product in the US anymore.

Someday we'll all be selling eachother hamburgers.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Belgian_Draft 0]

Quote

Old news. People have been afraid of Mexican trucks for years.

What we really should be afraid of is the government regulations that make it almost impossible to manufacture a product in the US anymore.

Someday we'll all be selling eachother hamburgers.

Don't forget to ask if they want fries.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[skyrider 0]

Quote

Old news. People have been afraid of Mexican trucks for years.

What we really should be afraid of is the government regulations that make it almost impossible to manufacture a product in the US anymore.

Someday we'll all be selling eachother hamburgers.

"Government"???? Yoru joking right???? Unions, make it impossible for America to compete!

People being over paid for monkey work, raises the cost of everything!

Decent wages, leads to decent prices!

[masterrig 1]

Usually, when times are tough, we see a continuous stream of commercials for truck driving schools. Things must be really tough... I have yet to see one of those commercials.
Thanks to our fine governor and a few supportive congressmen and senators here in Texas, who are pushing to expand trade routes from Mexico, a lot of U.S. freight is being hauled on Mexican trucks. Also, more of those trucks are bringing in more dope than border guards can keep up with!


Chuck

[airdvr 210]

Quote

Usually, when times are tough, we see a continuous stream of commercials for truck driving schools. Things must be really tough... I have yet to see one of those commercials.
Thanks to our fine governor and a few supportive congressmen and senators here in Texas, who are pushing to expand trade routes from Mexico, a lot of U.S. freight is being hauled on Mexican trucks. Also, more of those trucks are bringing in more dope than border guards can keep up with!


Chuck

At least everyone's chillaxin'

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Quote

Usually, when times are tough, we see a continuous stream of commercials for truck driving schools. Things must be really tough... I have yet to see one of those commercials.
Thanks to our fine governor and a few supportive congressmen and senators here in Texas, who are pushing to expand trade routes from Mexico, a lot of U.S. freight is being hauled on Mexican trucks. Also, more of those trucks are bringing in more dope than border guards can keep up with!


Chuck

You aren't seeing those commercials for 3 reasons.

1 - There are still more trucks than freight. The big companies are just starting to advertise for drivers again.

2 - Because capcacity (the amount of trucks on the road) dropped by about 20% during the downturn, there are enough drivers looking for jobs that they don't need the "normal" amount of new drivers.

3 - Many of the bigger companies are doing their own training these days. A lot of those "schools" you see advertised are pretty poor. They teach enough to get the CDL, but not a whole lot more. The drivers coming out of those places need a lot of additional training to make it out in the real world.

And the Mexican trucks aren't hauling "U.S. Freight". Read my post above. They can deliver Mexican freight into the US and haul stuff going to Mexico out of the US. They can't legally haul US freight within the US. It's called "cabotage" and it's illegal. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but it's illegal.

And US drivers can do the same as far as delivering and picking up in Mexico, although personally I wouldn't do it with the situation south of the border the way it is.

The drug smuggling, along with the quality of Mexican equipment is an issue, as is the difference in Hours of Service laws between the US and Mexico (HOS is how long you can drive and how long breaks must be and that sort of thing).

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Quote

Usually, when times are tough, we see a continuous stream of commercials for truck driving schools. Things must be really tough... I have yet to see one of those commercials.
Thanks to our fine governor and a few supportive congressmen and senators here in Texas, who are pushing to expand trade routes from Mexico, a lot of U.S. freight is being hauled on Mexican trucks. Also, more of those trucks are bringing in more dope than border guards can keep up with!


Chuck

At least everyone's chillaxin'

Where is that 'rolling eyes' icon when you need it!


Chuck

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Quote

Usually, when times are tough, we see a continuous stream of commercials for truck driving schools. Things must be really tough... I have yet to see one of those commercials.
Thanks to our fine governor and a few supportive congressmen and senators here in Texas, who are pushing to expand trade routes from Mexico, a lot of U.S. freight is being hauled on Mexican trucks. Also, more of those trucks are bringing in more dope than border guards can keep up with!


Chuck

You aren't seeing those commercials for 3 reasons.

1 - There are still more trucks than freight. The big companies are just starting to advertise for drivers again.

2 - Because capcacity (the amount of trucks on the road) dropped by about 20% during the downturn, there are enough drivers looking for jobs that they don't need the "normal" amount of new drivers.

3 - Many of the bigger companies are doing their own training these days. A lot of those "schools" you see advertised are pretty poor. They teach enough to get the CDL, but not a whole lot more. The drivers coming out of those places need a lot of additional training to make it out in the real world.

And the Mexican trucks aren't hauling "U.S. Freight". Read my post above. They can deliver Mexican freight into the US and haul stuff going to Mexico out of the US. They can't legally haul US freight within the US. It's called "cabotage" and it's illegal. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but it's illegal.

And US drivers can do the same as far as delivering and picking up in Mexico, although personally I wouldn't do it with the situation south of the border the way it is.

The drug smuggling, along with the quality of Mexican equipment is an issue, as is the difference in Hours of Service laws between the US and Mexico (HOS is how long you can drive and how long breaks must be and that sort of thing).

I drove trucks, local and over the road, for 25-yrs. and saw a lot. I guess, Mexico has lightened-up on allowing U.S. drivers to deliver loads to Mexican destinations. Used to, a U.S. driver dropped his trailer across the border and a Mexican operated tractor picked it up and made the delivery and returned the trailer to the U.S. driver. With so many 'junk' rigs coming to the U.S., it's no wonder the lines are so long at the ports.


Chuck

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Quote

I drove trucks, local and over the road, for 25-yrs. and saw a lot. I guess, Mexico has lightened-up on allowing U.S. drivers to deliver loads to Mexican destinations. Used to, a U.S. driver dropped his trailer across the border and a Mexican operated tractor picked it up and made the delivery and returned the trailer to the U.S. driver. With so many 'junk' rigs coming to the U.S., it's no wonder the lines are so long at the ports.


Chuck

Right. That was what the rules were for both Mexico and Canada before NAFTA. A US driver in a US truck couldn't do anything but go to a terminal/drop yard right at the border. Now (in theory anyway) the US driver can deliver the load and pick up a return load, and Mexican and Canadian drivers can do the same.

It works fine with Canada (I was just up there last week). But there are problems getting it fully implemented with Mexico. Some of those problems are real, some are exaggerated and some are completely made up.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Quote

I drove trucks, local and over the road, for 25-yrs. and saw a lot. I guess, Mexico has lightened-up on allowing U.S. drivers to deliver loads to Mexican destinations. Used to, a U.S. driver dropped his trailer across the border and a Mexican operated tractor picked it up and made the delivery and returned the trailer to the U.S. driver. With so many 'junk' rigs coming to the U.S., it's no wonder the lines are so long at the ports.


Chuck

Right. That was what the rules were for both Mexico and Canada before NAFTA. A US driver in a US truck couldn't do anything but go to a terminal/drop yard right at the border. Now (in theory anyway) the US driver can deliver the load and pick up a return load, and Mexican and Canadian drivers can do the same.

It works fine with Canada (I was just up there last week). But there are problems getting it fully implemented with Mexico. Some of those problems are real, some are exaggerated and some are completely made up.

I haven't driven a 'big rig' in about 15-yrs. so, I'm really out of the loop. I have to admit, I 'think' about trucking whenever I see a Pete or KW or Freightliner. I was able to make a good living at it and enjoyed it.


Chuck

[freethefly 6]

My point being just what you mentioned. Add in more drivers coming up from Mexico. It's been a topic on the news around here, lately.
What will happen, the local drivers that depend upon moving export to the border and return with import will be cut out. Starting with the independent owner/operator. The large operations will do fine. It's the small operator that's going to get screwed. And they already are. Of the 6 homes scattered down the road I live on, 4 of them are truckers. Two of them own and the other two drive for Dan Cline, a local medium size operation. The Cline trucks move more than the two owners.
With little going out and more coming in the single truck owner has it rough as it is, having to compete with the larger operations. If the Mexican drivers are allowed to drive all the way up here to MO, the small operator is finished.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young