Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/29112
SOUND OFF Unfortunately, I have done just that. They just don’t know! I could go on and on, but when it comes to these rule makers, it falls on deaf ears. They ask for our input, but from the proposed changes, they obviously ignore it. Which is too bad because they don’t know. I have well over a million miles of accident free driving since I started about 12 years ago. I will be eligible to retire later this year. I love the road, but if they con- tinue to make it harder and harder to do the job, like many others I have spoken to who are my age and older, I will retire. The industry is going to lose a lot of experienced drivers. Too bad they don’t know that they don’t know. Thanks for putting out a great magazine. Bob Hearns Brossard, Quebec, Canada DON’T BE DETERRED FROM RUNNING LEGAL I just got finished reading Mr. Burnett’s letter indicating the trouble he has gotten from different companies for running legal. Even to the point of being labeled a “job hopper” and thus becoming unemployable. Running legal is admirable. Imprac- tical, but admira- ble. I want to say to everyone that if you Submit a Letter: Send letters to Truckers News, Attn: Randy Grider, 3200 Rice Mine Road NE, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 35406 or rgrider@rrpub.com. Tweet Us: Hit up Truckers News’ Twitter page at twitter. com/truckersnews to provide quick and easy feedback in 140 characters or less. expose yourself to recrimination because you choose to run legal, do not just quit or allow yourself to be fired on account of it. Report it. Or else you’ll wind up unemployable and living in a van. Paul R. Wood Panama City Beach, Fla. EOBRS NOT THAT USEFUL In respect to your February 2011 cover article on EOBRs, it appears to me that the federal government has simply found another way to eradicate common sense and good judgment. Case in point: Each and every plane that crashed on 9/11 had an EOBR on board, and it prevented what? It has always been my contention that no one ever cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Sincerely, Albert Hemerson Gilmore City, Iowa NOT STEALING YOUR LOADS It is wrong to say either Canadian (me) or Mexican drivers are tak- ing work away from U.S. drivers. We can only move loads back and forward over our respective bor- ders. We can’t move loads between U.S. points, so we take no work from drivers here. It is the choice of many U.S. drivers and/or their employers not to enter Canada (and I presume Mexico is no different), but those loads are available to compete for if they want them. David Galbraith Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE U.S. PAYING FOR ELECTRONIC ON-BOARD RECORDERS (EOBRS) FOR PARTICIPATING MEXICAN CARRIERS IN THE PROPOSED CROSS-BORDER TRUCKING PROGRAM? Via Facebook: Now that seems fair (tongue in cheek)! — Jana H. The way the news is looking the government can’t afford to pay for the devices. — Linzy M. It’s wrong. Why should the American Taxpayer have to foot the bill to put EOBRs on Mexican trucks? Then turn around and tell the American trucker he also has to pay for his own EOBR. This would be using tax dollars to take jobs away from taxpayers. — Dennis S. Makes no sense. I say no EOBRs for anyone. — Camajtli T. We’re officially [screwed]. This is gonna put the nail in the coffin of the trucking industry. — Josh L. Sounds like the government wants more U.S.A. workers out of work. — Johnny L. We shouldn’t even be having this discussion in the first place. There never should have been the idea to let 12 TRUCKERS NEWS MAY 2011 This is exactly what we all were worried about when they passed that crap law. Now after all the bull about how this wouldn’t happen, here it is. — J. Sampson Do they really think they can afford this? B.S.! The country Mexican trucks in here from the start. NAFTA is a joke, and the U.S. should get out, period. All this so-called “free trade” just hurts the American worker and employer (what jobs we still do have in this country). — Scott G. is broke enough as it is! — Robin D. The ATA and corporate America couldn’t export our jobs. They have tried the driver shortage game, but didn’t get the visas for the cheap labor that they want, but now they are about to get some of it. — James M. Don’t blame NAFTA for this Mexican EOBR debacle! The reason the FMCSA is purchasing said EOBRs for the Mexican carriers is because they can’t force them to buy them. They would first have to force EOBRs upon us American carriers and then the Canadians and Mexicans would have to follow suit. It’s a bad deal using fuel tax money, but I think it’s a good deal the Mexicans aren’t throwing a fit about it. It shows they are willing to bend to our DOT’s will and play by our country’s rules. You people that think it’s going to affect our freight up here need to realize they’ll only be hauling their freight. Freight that comes out of Mexico or is bound for Mexico. — Ryan F.