Moving to Baja

I was trucking all summer and really followed what was going on in the industry. Here is the skinny: For some reason the current US administration was hell bent on opening up the border for Mexican trucks. Although many Americans think that the Mexican trucking industry wants to take over trucking in the USA nothing could be further than the truth. The whole experiment has been a huge failure. Something like 12 companies have been approved for entry. BUT of the 800 or so crossings more than 80 % were done by one company. A Mexican cement company. I think it was CEMEX. This makes sense as they are one of the largest cement companies in the world and own batch plants in the USA. Hauling their own makes sense. many US and Canadian trucking companies are twinned with a Mexican company or as in the case of Swift Transportation they just went out and bought a Mexican Company. The US trucks do not go beyond the border area and the same for the Mexican trucks. The drivers I have spoken to do NOT want to travel in the USA. They are afraid of the language barrier and the high cost of eating out. They also do not want to be that far away from their families. many Americans do not understand that the Mexican trucks can only deliver goods to the USA and PU goods bound for Mexico. They cannot PU goods in the USA and deliver to the USA. That is called cabotage. Anyone who thinks Mexican trucks are junk is either blind or has not been to Mexico for 20 years or more. The junk you see at the border are mules that simply cross the border and go a few miles for cross docking or drop and hook. The Mexican trucks are just as nice as the US trucks. They have satellite tracking just like us. The drivers of the newer trucks are as good as any NOB. Some are even better as driving turnpike doubles on those narrow roads is a feat I would never try! There is one huge difference. Mexico has very few DOT inspectors or even weigh scales. So drivers do not have to worry about hours of service. The laws exist but enforcement is haphazard. None of the Mexican trucks meet USA pollution or safety standards. But the US administration says they do! Very few if any US trucks are bought in the USA and brought to Mexico. Lots of used trucks. The dealers go as far as Detroit to drive them back. I se them on I80 all the time. Usually have a Mexican car in tow. BTW: Mexicans who bring back US vehicles and tow a car are known as Towbareros. Spanglish at it's best.

Moisheh