Not right place or time, OOIDA says of Mexico truck proposal

Owner-operator fleets averaging slightly more than one truck represent nearly half the total number of heavy-duty commercial trucks operated in the U.S, said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer. (Courtesy: OOIDA)

The Trucker News Services

4/8/2011

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. — It took the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association less than one hour after the Department of Transportation’s release of the details of the proposed cross-border trucking program to  blast the DOT’s decision to resume allowing Mexico-domiciled trucks into the U.S. and vice versa.

OOIDA is infuriated on behalf of small-business truckers and professional truck drivers at the announcement, the association said.

 “This is the wrong plan at the wrong time for numerous reasons,” Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president, said. “It’s irresponsible and reckless. The administration must reconsider or Congress must step in again to force them to do the right thing.”

The majority of trucking companies based in the U.S. are small businesses, OOIDA officials said, adding that as many as 93 percent of all motor carriers have fewer than 20 trucks in their fleets and 78 percent of motor carriers have fleets of six or fewer trucks.

“Owner-operator fleets averaging slightly more than one truck represent nearly half the total number of heavy-duty commercial trucks operated in the U.S,” Spencer added. “Those trucking companies and truck drivers must contend with ever-increasing safety, homeland security and environmental regulations that dramatically affect their costs of operation as well as their ability to make a living at their chosen profession.”

“The onus is on Mexico to raise the safety, security and environmental standards for their trucking industry,” Spencer said. “We should not allow ourselves to be harassed or blackmailed into lowering ours.”

Mexico first imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports close to two years ago. OOIDA contends the legality of the original tariffs should have been challenged.

 “Succumbing to Mexico’s bullying provides a handy attack plan for them and other governments in future trade disputes,” Spencer said.

Despite the tariffs, OOIDA said based on numbers released by the DOT in March 2011, truck-based trade with Mexico surged by 27.6 percent last year to a total of $320.3 billion, and the bulk of this increase was from U.S. goods going to Mexico. 

“They need to stop placating Mexico’s government and start fighting for the Americans they are supposed to represent.” Spencer said. “If they follow through with this, the Administration will be jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions of Americans.”

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