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 Campaign Unavailable We're sorry, this alert is no longer available. If you would like to learn more about ways you can take action, please visit Teamsters Take Action.The short explanation of this alert was: Despite Congress taking action last year and passing a law to stop funding for the Mexican truck pilot program, the Department of Transportation (DOT) ignored this law and continues to operate the dangerous program to this day. Mexican trucks and drivers are not being held to the same safety standards that we require of our own trucks and drivers, and the lives of American motorists are being put at risk on our nation's highways everyday. Mexican drivers are still not receiving proper drug and alcohol testing, the accuracy of the database of Mexican driver violations remains in question, little to no enforcement exists for hours-of-service regulations for these drivers (the permitted amount of time that a driver can be behind the wheel), and Mexican carriers applying to participate in the program are not being subjected to thorough safety reviews. One such carrier that was approved to participate, Trinity Enterprises, has had over 1200 violations while traveling within the currently permitted commercial zone - about 100 violations per truck. This alarming number for one carrier alone certainly calls into question the safety records of other carriers that have been approved as well. And with the same defiance of the will of Congress and reckless disregard for the safety of the American public, the DOT recently announced its proposal to extend the program for two more years. Enough is enough, and Congress thinks so too. Today the U.S. House of Representatives will consider H.R. 6630, a bill that would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from allowing Mexican carriers to operate beyond the currently permitted commercial zone unless Congress authorizes it. In addition to putting a stop to the program, this piece of legislation would require that the DOT Inspector General, an independent review panel, and the Secretary of Transportation submit reports relating to the program that would give Congress a better understanding of the safety risks involved with allowing these trucks and drivers onto our nation's highways. We need your help to put a stop to unsafe Mexican trucks! Please take the time today to send an e-mail to your representative and urge him or her to vote YES on H.R. 6630. A sample e-mail is provided below for your convenience. If you would like to view details on this alert, please visit here. |
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