Mexican Trucks On US Highways

As President Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress continue to try and ram one massive bill after another down our throats, it has become far too easy for other less glamorous issues to slip by without much notice. One such issue is allowing Mexican-domiciled semi-tractor trailer rigs to roam around unfettered on U.S. highways. Not only are serious concerns with the safety of these vehicles and the drivers, the fact is that by allowing these foreign rigs to haul loads across the US, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers of America will be severely undercut. In other words, yet another small American business person will get hosed by our very own government.

Realizing that mainstream media will give this issue little, if any, coverage, the good folks at Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) have been keeping their members informed. In turn, friends of ours who are members of OOIA have forwarded the information on to us.

The material that follows comes from OOIDA and is worthy of a few minutes of your time to read and think about. Remember this - the Owner-Operators of America are a crucial part of our economy. Most everything in your home or office was at some point transported in a big rig. We can not afford to stand by and let these folks lose their livelihood to foreign nationals operating within our borders and running on roads built by U.S. taxpayers.

From OOIDA

~ URGENT ~

President Obama and officials in his Administration need to hear from you TODAY!

This Sunday (August 9) President Obama will be traveling to the city of Guadalajara in Mexico to meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on matters related to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

A Mexican official told Reuters news service last night that Calderon plans to pressure President Obama to move forward with opening U.S. roads to Mexico-domiciled trucking companies and truck drivers.

Recent statements by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and other officials indicate that the Administration is already on the verge of giving in to pressure from Mexico and the multi-national corporations behind the push for Mexican trucks in the U.S.

President Obama and officials in his Administration need to hear from you, your family members and your fellow truckers as none of the safety or security issues have been resolved on either side of the border!


Call, write, fax to the offices below TODAY and TOMORROW!


Office of the U.S. Trade Representative:

USTR's Intergovernmental Affairs & Public Liaison office: (202) 395-6120
FAX: (202) 395-3692

Office of the United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20208


President Obama:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Comments: (202) 456-1111
FAX: (202) 456-2461

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500


U.S. Department of Transportation:

Phone: (202) 366-4000

Secretary Ray LaHood
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Suite W60-300
Washington, DC 20590


Congress:

To call your 2 Senators and your Representative in the House, call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, provide the operator with your home zip code. The operator will connect you with the offices of your elected representatives.

To write and/or fax to your Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


To write and/or fax to your U.S. Representative:

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml


*You are also welcome to call OOIDA at (800) 444-5791. Association staff will be happy to help put you in touch with your elected officials in Washington.

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Please call, write, fax to the offices TODAY and TOMORROW!