Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
National Headquarters: 1 NW OOIDA Drive, Grain Valley, MO 64029
Tel: (816) 229-5791 Fax: (816) 427-4468
Washington Office: 122 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Tel: (202) 347-2007 Fax: (202) 347-2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Norita Taylor
March 8, 2007
(800) 444-5791
Going the Wrong Way on a One Way
Mexican Trucking Program Unsafe, Unverified, Unacceptable
(March 8, 2007, Washington, DC) – Today, Charlie Parfrey, President and COO of Parfrey Trucking Brokerage in Spokane, WA, testified before a U. S. Senate committee on the proposal to permit Mexican trucks to operate on all U.S. highways. Parfrey testified on behalf of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) in opposition to the Bush administration’s proposed cross border pilot program with Mexico.
“It is simply abhorrent to think that our government would allow Mexican trucks full access to U.S. highways before all safety, economic and homeland security concerns are completely and appropriately addressed,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA Executive Vice President.
“Millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars have been spent, and will continue to be spent, along our southern border, doing what the government of Mexico cannot, or will not do – ensure the safety of the Mexican trucking industry by adopting meaningful, compatible regulations. It seems to me that the Department of Transportation is bending over backwards to accommodate Mexican motor carriers, 1,000 Mexican truckers, and the Mexican government. Yet on matters that would significantly help hundreds of thousands of American truckers and advance safety on our country’s highways, we often hear from DOT officials that the department has limited resources and staff.”
With 23 years of experience in the trucking industry, of which 10 years were spent on the road, Parfrey offered the views of small business truckers by strongly opposing the pilot program. He cited a multitude of concerns, including safety, security, driver verification, drug and alcohol testing, hours of service, cabotage, inspections and insurance.
OOIDA’s Spencer echoed Parfrey’s concerns.
“Today, Americans have no more assurances than they did in 2002 when the Congress overwhelmingly told the Bush administration that safety had to be assured before the border with Mexico can be opened. It is clear that there remain too many significant questions, with very few, if any answers, that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that this pilot program is not in the best interest of the American public,” said Spencer. “We need more than just press releases and briefing sheets to fully understand what DOT has undertaken in this proposal.”
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is the national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, Mo. area. The Association currently has more than 149,000 members from all 50 states and Canada.