Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/26876
FOR THE RECORD TRUCKING NEWS and Mexican officials have reached a cross- border trucking agreement that would allow Mexican trucks into the U.S. and require Mexico to phase out retaliatory tariffs, President Obama announced March 3. U.S., Mexico Agree on Trucking Plan U.S. Obama said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Ambassador Ron Kirk have reached consensus with their Mexican counterparts. Mexican President Felipe Calde- rón said retaliatory tariffs, estimated at $2.4 billion, will be lifted in phases. Calderón said 50 percent of the tariffs will be ended when the agreement is signed. The remaining 50 percent will be dropped when the first Mexican truck is autho- rized under the new program. In return, Mexican truckers must comply with U.S. safety and environmental regulations. The U.S. Depart- ment of Transportation will monitor driver skills, safe- ty and language tests for Mexican truckers who intend to drive in the U.S. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, U.S. and Mexico are required to allow trucks access to the other country’s highways. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association expressed outrage at the announcement. “Simply un- believable,” said Todd Spencer, executive vice president FYI NAFTA Surface Trade Slips in December Surface transportation trade between the United States and Canada and Mexico rose 13.8 percent in Decem- ber over December 2009 to $66.5 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Depart- ment of Transportation. BTS reported the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with North American Free Trade Agreement countries Canada and Mexico fell 2.2 percent in December from November. January Tonnage Up in January The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted For- Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 3.8 percent in Jan- uary after rising a revised 2.5 percent in December. The 18 TRUCKERS NEWS APRIL 2011 latest jump put the adjusted index at 117.1 in January, which was the highest level since January 2008. In December, the adjusted index equaled 112.7. Pilot Opens New Facility Pilot has opened a travel center in Weed, Calif., off of Interstate 5 at exit 745. The center has eight diesel islands with high-speed fuel pumps, a Subway restaurant, pay phones, fax and copy services, Western Union, check cashing service, lot- tery tickets, an arcade area and general merchandise for drivers. Record Used Truck Registrations Used commercial vehicle registrations covering Class 3-8 in the U.S. increased 21.7 percent in 2010 over 2009 of OOIDA. “For all the president’s talk of helping small businesses survive, his administration is sure doing their best to destroy small trucking companies and the drivers they employ.” The American Trucking Associations supports the agreement. “When properly implemented, NAFTA’s trucking provisions should evolve to allow for a more ef- ficient, safe and secure environment for cross-border op- erations between the U.S. and Mexico,” ATA President Bill Graves said. In his fiscal 2012 budget request, Obama earmarked $50.4 million to “support cross-border inspections and the Mexican long-haul program,” which includes $5 million to begin multi-year improvement of U.S.-Mexi- co border inspection facilities. The House highways sub- committee pledged Jan. 23 to monitor the program to ensure truck safety and protect U.S. jobs. More News starting on page 72 NEWS BRIEFS to a record level of approxi- mately 672,000 units reg- istered, according to Polk. Used commercial vehicle registrations accounted for nearly 65 percent of the total commercial vehicle market (new and used) in 2010. Class 8 Orders Dip in February Class 8 truck net orders for North American mar- kets totaled 24,300 units in continued on page 71 JILL DUNN TODD DILLS