Nogales Crossing may be a short-term problem!

[rocmoc]

From the Nogales International Newspaper:


"ADOT warns of truck blockade at Arizona ports

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Comments (2)

Posted: Friday, April 18, 2014 8:58 am | Updated: 9:29 am, Fri Apr 18, 2014.

Nogales International | 2 comments

Mexican truckers are upset about their treatment at Arizona ports of entry and could blockade the ports if conditions don’t improve, state authorities say.

Truckers in Nogales, Ariz. and Nogales, Sonora threatened to blockade Arizona’s ports of entry, citing concerns over the high number of inspections and fines, as well as the high number of trucks placed “out of service” by U.S. federal safety inspectors, according to a news release issued by the Arizona Department of Transportation on Wednesday.

In addition, the truckers complained the fines and “out of service” rulings are disproportionately higher at Arizona’s ports of entry than at ports in Texas and California.

The truckers reportedly gave a March 20 deadline for the blockade, but “the efforts of many officials have helped stave off that threat for now,” the release said.

ADOT “doesn’t take a position on the merits of these grievances,” but in light of the importance of cross-border trade to Arizona’s economy, the agency is urging the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to consider these complaints and resolve the issues in order to avoid a blockade, according to the release.

“A blockade would have detrimental and long-standing repercussions for Nogales and the entire Sinaloa-Sonora-Arizona corridor as Arizona looks to enhance competitiveness with other U.S. border states,” said ADOT director John Halikowski.

“The United States and Mexico are engaged in a high-level dialogue to promote competitiveness and connectivity along with fostering economic growth and productivity,” he said. “But without an effective and efficient border, our two nations would not be able to reach their maximum potential. Our work on the border is critical to Arizona’s and the nation’s future.”

Vehicular traffic at Arizona’s ports of entry has risen in recent years, from 15 million cars in 2012 to 16.3 million cars in 2013. Truck traffic increased from 754,000 crossings in 2012 to 763,000 crossings in 2013. Train crossings also increased from 1,300 in 2012 to 1,730 in 2013.

“Arizona and our federal partners have been working tirelessly to ensure that our ports of entry are modernized so that we can remain competitive with other border states,” said Margie Emmermann, executive director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission."

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[moisheh]

trnfla: I suggest that you read the news release again. It is not Azdot inspectors that are causing the problem it is the FEDS. As a part time OTR trucker I can tell you that the FMCSA is a bureaucracy out of control. They use bad data (read lies) to bring out new rules that do nothing to enhance safety. Actually the rules are forcing drivers to drive tired.

Moisheh

[briansue]

problems on their trucks that endanger all of us.

Having been a trucker in the US for many years and then having traveled in Mexico for many years I can state that Mexican truckers for the most part take excellent care of their vehicles - and also that for the most part they are great drivers.

Also - to clarify - most of the trucks that cross the border then go to a terminal where they either drop the trailer or they unload - they go no more than a few miles into the US - anyone who has been anywhere near any of the border crossings has seen many truck yards full of US company trailers. The Mexican truckers haul the US trailers into Mexico with US goods and then bring them back with Mexican goods.

Though it is now permissible for Mexican trucks to carry loads further into the US than previously allowed - as I recall it has been about one year since this was allowed - very few Mexican truckers want to go into the US and very few do. They are required to speak English, pass vehicle inspections, pass US licensing tests. Only trucks from major Mexican companies go further into the US than border towns and if they do they can only pick up loads returning to Mexico - they cannot carry loads between points in the US.

[trnfla]

Simple solution, the other border states need to start enforcing the same laws that Arizona is enforcing and the truckers would not have any choice other than correcting the problems on their trucks that endanger all of us. IMO