1. Is the U.S. using the issue of truck safety as a trade barrier? What proof can you offer?I think U.S. is using the issue of truck safety as a trade barrier because the increase in Mexican trucks within the limited border zone has had an adverse affect on safety in the U.S. For example, in Texas border counties, within the commercial border zone, have seen a dramatic increase in highway fatalities and serious injuries from truck with Mexican registration. Another dramatic case in California, a Mexican truck was involved in a 10-car pileup that killed four California motorists north of San Diego. These fatal crashes are bound to increase if the border is opened, and the number of tru ...view middle of the document...
Have a safety standards check for every truck and significant truck component including tires, brakes, lighting, etc.Have a better training and effective levels of staffing of Mexican safety inspectors.Have regular roadside inspections.Enforcement of safety standards for motor carrier operators that establish fleet-wide responsibility.Enforce of logbook requirements for driversMuch stricter penalties and enforcement are needed3. Can you find evidence of any Mexican regulations or requirements that prevent or impede U.S. trade?There is considerable evidence that Mexican trucks applying for entry into the United States would comply with standards comparable to those of U.S. operators. Other DOT studies show that in California, which has more commercial vehicle inspection stations and a more rigorous inspection process than Texas, the number of Mexican trucks "idled" for safety reasons dropped to a figure on a par with U.S. trucks. And officials at the Texas Department of Public Safety have noted that the safety performance of Mexican buses--which have already been allowed access to the U.S. under NAFTA--match U.S. safety rates.Another detail lost amid the Mexico-bashing is that the U.S. trucking industry is not itself a shining example of safety. In the U.S., major safety problems plagued the industry until the mid-1980s; subsequent crackdowns reduced the fatal accident rate for la...
