Filed under: Mary Peters, News, Safety | Tags: inspections, Safety, Trinity Industries de Mexico
Cross-posted from TeamsterPower
What happens when you have an administration that cares more about the free market than regulatory oversight?
Poison spinach, toothpaste and pet food, lead in our kids’ toys, mortgage lending run amok and now unsafe trucks on our highways.
The Teamsters biggest argument against the Department of Transportation’s dangerous Mexican Truck “pilot program” has always been about safety. The counter argument by supporters of this sham has been: “but the trucks are closely inspected and the companies are all thoroughly checked.”
Oh yeah?
What about Trinity Industries de Mexico? Until a few weeks ago, this company and its 16 trucks were approved to operate on U.S. roads by Mary Peters’ inspectors.
According to Teamster.org, the company pulled out of the program on Feb. 1, after it was discovered that Trinity received 1,123 safety violations in the year before the border was opened, or 112 violations per vehicle.
Trinity drivers and trucks were put out of service 75 times, but according to the criteria used by the Transportation Department they should have received another 476 out-of-service orders.
Federal law defines out-of-service violations as conditions “where an imminent hazard” is present. “Imminent hazard” is defined by federal law as “any condition of vehicle, employee or commercial motor vehicle operations which substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death if not discontinued immediately.”
“Mary Peters has some explaining to do,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters general president. “She claimed that she only opened the border to Mexican trucks after they passed rigorous safety inspections. Now we learn that Trinity Industries averaged 112 safety violations per truck — according to the Transportation Department’s own statistics — in the year before it was allowed to use American highways.”
Hoffa questioned whether it was a coincidence that Trinity dropped out of the pilot program shortly after a declaration was made to the federal court about the company’s many serious safety violations.
The Teamsters, Public Citizen, the Sierra Club and the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association are challenging the legality of the cross-border pilot program in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Oral arguments will be heard on February 12.
16 Comments so far
Leave a comment
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
I would ask, “Cui Bono?” Who benefits? Why is the Teamsters suddenly so interested in our safety? I believe it is using the issue at hand along with all those anti-trucking organizations to force America to reneg on a lawful agreement to stem competition. Par for the course!
Comment by Frank February 7, 2008 @ 9:06 pmThe Teamsters have been concerned about safety for more than 100 years. Work place safety and highway safety.
Your comment is typical anti union bunk.
Our members drive on America’s roads and highways more than anyone else. So of course we are concerned about safety. This is why we fight for reasonable hours of service regulations and against overloading transmodal shipping containers. It’s why we fight for securing our rail yards and rules against outsourcing airline maintenance to non FAA-certified mechanics.
It’s for our safety and even the safety of union foes and their families.
Would we like to see NAFTA repealed? You bet. So would the Mexicans.
But one battle at a time.
The U.S. is completely within its rights under NAFTA to enforce its safety standards.
A North American Free Trade Agreement panel ruled that the United States may not have a “blanket refusal” of Mexican trucks, but said the U.S. doesn’t have to open the border to Mexican trucks that don’t meet U.S. truck standards.
“The safety of trucking services is a legitimate regulatory objective” and that the United States is “responsible for the safe operation of trucks within U.S. territory, whether ownership is U.S., Canadian or Mexican.” (NAFTA arbitration panel ruling, Feb. 5, 2001.)
We’re not afraid of competition. An American worker can compete with anyone. That’s just a smokescreen that corporations throw out there so they can move jobs south of the border and stuff the savings into their annual bonuses.
I agree with you though. Follow the money. The real money. And see who is behind this push to open our roads to unsafe Mexican trucks.
You may find it’s the very same American manufacturers who moved their factories to Mexico during that first giant sucking sound of jobs leaving the US.
Now they want to exploit Mexican drivers and add the profits to their paychecks. Only Mexicans don’t have the same amount of training we have. Mexican drivers don’t have to take drug and alcohol tests. Mexican drivers don’t have traceable driving records. Their trucks don’t have to meet U.S. safety standards or emissions standards.
And I don’t know what anti-trucking organizations you’re talking about. The owner-operaters? The Mexican owner operators? The Sierra Club? Public Citizen? Oh wait we’re all on the same side on this one.
Comment by teamsterpower February 7, 2008 @ 10:09 pmNothing sudden about it Frank. Don’t you read the newspapers? Teamsters have kept up on this issue for a decade. Please get your facts straight lest you be thought of as just another public affairs worker for the DOT.
Comment by John C February 8, 2008 @ 1:36 pmI find myself stunned twice over- first, that our appointed public “servants” would refuse the legal obligations of their office, and to refuse to implement the mandate of the people that have given them authority. Second, I am shocked by the diversity of the organizations and individuals that stand against the utter insanity that is allowing Mexican trucks into the United States. For the Teamsters to see eye to eye with the Sierra Club AND the ultra-conservative outspoken advocacy groups says to me in very loud and clear language that America doesn’t want this attack on our safety, and Washington would be well served to listen.
I can’t think of a single issue in the past 30 years when I could say I agreed with the Teamsters without qualification, but on this one there is no hesitation on my part. I’ve seen the trucks that come into the US- I’ve seen milk crates attached to the floor with bungee cords used as seats, I’ve seen “drivers” untwisting wire coat hangers that were holding their doors shut, I’ve seen enough fluid leaking from engine compartments that make you wonder how they make it to the end of the street without seizing up… no- this is wrong and it needs to end- right now.
Comment by Mike February 9, 2008 @ 1:19 pmWhy would you question the Teamsters’ commitment to safety and not Mary Peters’? She’s the one who opened the border to a trucking company that had 112 serious safety violations per vehicle.
Comment by Lawrence Landrigan February 9, 2008 @ 1:25 pmThe school bus industry sell dilapidated, exhausted, outdated and over aged buses that NJDOT removes permanently out of service to Mexican companies. high demand. Our drivers refuse to drive some of them are so bad, and only go south because they are aged out.
Comment by walter February 12, 2008 @ 11:37 amAs a former driver for Fed Ex of 10 years, this disgusts me, but doesn’t surprise me. It’s all part of the NAU/SPP plan the Bush Admin. has been pushing for years. Our roads are dangerous enough with Americans who aren’t paying attention to their driving, we don’t need faulty trucks from a FOREIGN COUNTRY that aren’t inspected on a regular basis, and we all know they’re not inspected (pre or post trip!). Based on the culture of the Mexicans I’ve seen, many seem to drink and drive and this concerns me, especially with big rig drivers. ENOUGH!!! Also, check out: http://www.alipac.us They’re waging a campaign to get the last six remaining states that still give driver’s lic’s to ILLEGALS to change their laws. The six: Hawaii, Maine, Utah, Oregon, Washington and New Mexico. Michigan recently changed their law. Please check it out. If we all yell loud enough maybe they’ll listen this time!
Comment by April February 12, 2008 @ 10:31 pmTo Frank: Of course the Teamsters have a direct interest in this issue, but do you really feel safe with your loved ones sharing US highways with MEXICAN DRIVERS?!? Get real. This is all about SAFETY and what’s right. You need to look into the NAU — the North American Union — eliminating the borders between Mexico, US and Canada. As John Amnesty McCain would say,
Comment by April February 12, 2008 @ 10:33 pm“This is just all part of the plan, MY FRIEND.”
the Bush administration talks about homeland security,well what about this its disgusting to think that my family and friends are on the same roads with these untrained and exhausted drivers being forced to deliver who knows what in the united states how many people have to die on our roads before they do something it’s horrible and sad what happened to my country
Comment by john cursio February 13, 2008 @ 5:50 pmWhen we the safe law abieding truckers of america stand up like other trucking brothers in other country,s and stand together union and non union owner oper.and demand a change or stop driving 4 three days and shut this country down.we may finaly get a say it whats happening but as long as big bussiness runs it 1st they send the manufacturing jobs down south of the border 4 cheap labor now they want the unsafe untrained cheap transportation to get the high priced products back in the usa. buy made in usa only and grow a set’ and lets take this great country back from the morons running it into the ground
Comment by Dennis Coll February 16, 2008 @ 5:01 pmok im not, a tie wearing pin pusher.im a 16 year truckdriver(yea one word)ive never had the opportunity to be a union member.im the guy that runs his butt off ,in the safest/best equipped/nicest tractor trailer on the road.just to be shut down 1 mile from delivery point.for a 15 min mistake on my log book.yea ive make mistakes.and payed dearly (over900.00for that one).eat beans and rice for a few weeks.my point.most mex driver have never seen 1000.00 who pay the fine.the U.S driver does..Mary peters im the one, that pays your salary .and YOUR FIRED!!
Comment by HUTTON MOLE February 16, 2008 @ 7:05 pmAs a very informed truck person it disturbes me that trucks from south of the US boarder are allowed to come into the this country taking work from American companies. These trucks do not conform to our safety standards. Older trucks pollute our air and are not up to Dept.of Trans. safety regulations. Most are older US used trucks. American’s trucks must conform to 2007 EPA stds that cost as much as $7–8,000.00 per truck. Must burn low sulfur fuel that cost more every week. Want to know why your food cost are going up & up. Call your congressman and tell to oppose leting illegal aliens into your counrty driving unsafe trucks on our highways.
Comment by Sam Bryant March 4, 2008 @ 12:32 amAS A STATE CMV INSPECTOR AT ONE OF OUR PORT OF ENTRY BRIDGES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS I HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND THE TRUCKS THAT COME INTO OUR COUNTRY. I AM DISGUSTED BY ALL THE PROPAGANDA THAT IS BEING RALLIED BY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ON HOW UNSAFE THIS TRUCKS REALLY ARE. TO TELL THE TRUTH ALOT OF THESE TRUCKS ARE IN BETTER CONDITION THAN THEIR COUNTERPART US TRUCKS. WHANT TO KNOW WHY. THEY GET INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. LOOK UP CVSA COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY ALLIANCE. THE CRITERIA WE USE TO INSPECT THESE TRUCKS. I SEE THIS DECALS ON THE MAJORITY OF THE MX TRUCKS. SOME THING THAT I HARDLY SEE ON US TRUCKS. I WAS NEVER FOR NAFTA. NEVER WILL BE. BUT I DO MY JOB. PLEASE PPL, STOP THE PROPAGANDA ON HOW UNSAFE MEXICAN TRUCKS ARE ON OUR HIGHWAYS. LEARN THE TRUTH, STUDY THE STATS.
Comment by ELY March 8, 2008 @ 2:54 pmThere has been any number of auto accidents involving Mexicans from Mexico in our state. Whether it was the condition of the truck, the lack of training of the driver or a combination of the two, it can only get worse the more there are of them.
Comment by Jearld White March 14, 2008 @ 9:02 pmI am a veteran truck driver of 20 + years.
Comment by lester killingsworth April 27, 2008 @ 2:26 pmI meet mostly mexican drivers every day at the terminals,Most cant speek a word of english,
how do they read our street signs? some I’ve
met dont run log books. and just to walk by there trucks makes you wonder how they even got there.
I do everthing I can to run leagle and I can promise its full time, and I still drive on pins & needles because if any thing happens its always going to be MY fault ! no time for details but I see many things that are grossly un fair to the american driver. and something should be done,from the people weve elicted to do the jobs. about it
Frank, please research first. Post reply second.
The teamsters have always been concerned what benefitted the industry, money wise as well as safety.
Again, another road dog barking up the wrong tree.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK TEAMSTERS!!!
Comment by Burton Express,LLC August 21, 2008 @ 6:57 am