LATEST LETTERS

Cross-border trucking

Tuesday, May 1 at 10:36 AM

Larry Kaufman of Golden writes:

Joan Ammerman of Northglenn presumably does not know that Mexican truckers are supposed to be allowed across the border under terms of the North American Free Trade Act signed by President Clinton and ratified by Congress (Waiting for the stories; Talk Back to the Media, 4/14/07, Page 32). The treaty also provides that U.S. trucks can operate within Mexico, and that U.S. and Canadian trucks may operate within each other’s countries. Under pressure from the Teamsters union and groups allied with it, two presidents (Clinton and Bush) have delayed implementing their international obligation.
Mexican trucks have been prevented from operating in this country - and U.S. trucks may not operate in Mexico.
Ms. Ammerman may not know this, and probably should not be expected to, although she didn’t hesitate to make her erroneous assumption into an anti-illegal immigrant screed. The Rocky editors who selected her letter for publication also appear to be ignorant of what has become an international embarrassment, but they should be expected to know this.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

Yeah and I'm just dying to drive on our highways with the Mexican trained semi-truck drivers OMG!! They probably go through 1 week of trucking school if that! I assume they keep their Mexican beer in the cooler right next to them or in the back with all the illegals they will be trucking in.

Posted by K on May 1, 2007 05:28 PM

One week of training is considered a luxury in Mexico. All they care about down there is that Jose can climb into the cab and start the engine. If he can do that on his first day, he is considered a trucker.

Posted by QBT on May 1, 2007 07:19 PM

The 100 Mexican trucking firms that Bush had ok'd the right to go anyplace in the USA, may have been postponed until July 1. Semi drivers that can't read English, can't read road signs, can't speak English are going to be turned loose on our highways, thanks to Jorge Bushie. Now, instead of illegals pouring into the USA in vans, they can sneak in by the semi load. Very few of the semi's will be checked at the border. Go to the truckers website at www.OOIDA.com to see how they feel about this !

Posted by Rocky on May 1, 2007 08:22 PM

This is the most assinine policy I have ever heard of. If this policy is allowed our roads are going to be more dangerous than they are now. Do you think a Mexican trucking company is going to make sure their trucks are in proper working order,insured,drivers who can read English and abide by the rules of the trucking industry? If you think this scenerio is correct ,put down the crack pipe.
Here is what is going to happen if our truckers go deeper into Mexico . They will be subject to Mexican Police corruption. Better take lots of payoff money with you.They will be hijacked constantly.There lives will always be in danger.Mexico is not a very safe place.
What a mess.The stupidity level of our lawmakers never ceases to amaze me.

Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on May 2, 2007 07:24 AM

CIGAA,
WE THE PEOPLE elect our officials, If WE THE PEOPLE do not vote then WE THE PEOPLE get stuck with the laws that are made. The stupidity of our lawmakers is not all the fault of the lawmakers but must be supported by WE THE PEOPLE.
How many voted yesterday???? Don't vote, Don't gripe.

Posted by SCAATY on May 2, 2007 09:21 AM

Who wants free trade?

I want Fair Trade?

I want to be paid for what I do just like truckers do, Parity Tariffs are the only thing that will accomplish this now that we have all these de-valuing free trade agreements that were supposed to benefit us. Instead the only thing they have done is robbed our country of its essense.

Posted by Farmer on May 2, 2007 09:23 AM

This story was in today's Snews.

Crash puts licensing under scrutiny
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/H/HIGHWAY_COLLAPSE?SITE=CODER&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-05-02-11-35-34

This is what we can expect on a regular basis once Mexican trucks are granted unfettered access to the USA. If I were an American trucker and my employer told me to drive into Mexico, I'd say no way Jose. I may be looking for a new driving job; but I'll be damned if I will put my life on the line driving in Mexico for a paycheck.

Posted by QBT on May 2, 2007 10:45 AM