The Continued Dispute Concerning Mexican Truck Drivers
The ongoing dispute over prohibiting Mexican semi truck drivers to haul over U.S. roadways is volate and unlikely to be settled definitively in the near future. It has been a long standing policy of this country to prevent Mexican trucks from operating in the United States - a ban that Mexico says patently violates the North American Free Trade Act of 1994. Mexico retaliated with some bans of their own which some claim have cost the country billions of dollars.
The current Secretary of Transportation has offered a concept document in an attempt to work towards a resolution. As one might expect - it has been met with an equal amount of opposition and support.
According to the proposal Mexican trucks would be allowed to cross the border if the drivers and companies are willing to meet certain insurance and safety standards. While that may be all well and good...there are genuine concerns.
First, the United States has multiple layers of local, state and federal organizations whose goal is to help to increase the safety of semi truck driving on our roadways. While many may feel we are still too lax in regulating the trucking business - it is likely that our regulation of the industry as a whole is set to a higher standard than that of our neighbor to the south.
In addition, training - while again perhaps not the most rigorous - ensures some level of competence before a person can obtain their CDL.
With the growing need for goods to be transported over the road - this is a question that will not go away anytime soon.
In an era of "no regulation" it is only civil justice afforded by our courts and regulatory entities like the DOT that protect American families.
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