Fairness For America’s Truckers
Sunday, May 03, 2009
By Bill Lussenheide
Jim Hoffa
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The open road for truck drivers has long held allure as one of the last bastions for a hard working blue collar American to make an honest living, while driving the highways and byways of America.
With new competition from cross border trucking from Mexico, a job that once would have been thought of as never being "exportable" suddenly is in jeopardy. NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, provided for an eventual free and open use by Mexican trucks to deliver cargo across the United States. As you will see, this is not just fair and open competition, but rather a rigged game, where American truckers are going to lose out and lose jobs.
Trade is only fair, if all sides play by the same rules. America's truckers must abide by United States rules in regards to workers compensation laws, minimum wage laws, social security taxes etc. Additionally, American truckers buy their diesel fuel here in the United States, and in California, they must pay for expensive very refined diesel that is less polluting. Additionally, equipment standards are high, and are constantly monitored by the Highway Patrols of our various states. All of these issues mean high expenses for our truckers in doing the job of delivering freight across the country.
With the opening of our highways to Mexican trucking companies comes unfair competition. Consider the fact that diesel fuel is subsidized in Mexico. There is only one oil company in Mexico, PEMEX, a state owned enterprise that seized all foreign assets that had been invested in the Mexican oil fields in 1935. Diesel produced by PEMEX has been as low as HALF the price of diesel for California Truckers. Furthermore, this diesel is far more polluting than California diesel.
A Mexican trucking company, with a rig that has 150 gallon tanks on each side, for a total of 300 gallons of fuel, can range as far as 1800 miles without refueling. Diesel regularly sells for as much as $1.00 a gallon CHEAPER in Mexico than the United States, thus giving a Mexican Trucking company a $300 advantage per load! This would equate unto the entire profit margin for such a run for an American trucking company. Factoring in other factors, which include worker's compensation, overtime, minimum wage laws etc., it will be virtually impossible for American truckers to compete.
Teamster President Jim Hoffa opposes the trucking plan calling it a ""foolhardy, dangerous plan."To support their claim, the union points out that Mexican truckers are not regularly tested for drug use, and no database tracks their driving records. Teamsters also cite conflicting labor policies and lower pay. Additionally, support for this cause is found with the Sierra Club, who has voiced concern about the higher pollution that Mexican diesel fuel will put out.
When elected to US Congress from CA-49, I will fight to abolish NAFTA, and any proposed North American Union. America's truckers can also count on me as a friend to an industry of hard working men and women. I will fight to keep these American jobs for Americans. As a truck driver myself for about a year in my youth, I understand this industry. I am a defender of a profession that keeps America well supplied, and has jobs for Americans!
Bill Lussenheide - Candidate US Congress CA-49
Visit my website at: http://www.FaithFamilyFreedoms.blogspot.com
Bill Lussenheide is a successful businessman and a talk show host on several large California conservative radio stations. He is a candidate for US Congress from California in the 49th district in 2010 under the American Independent Party banner. Bill holds college degrees in Management and in Marketing.
He is married to Terri (Miller)father of three sons, Bill Jr., Brad, and Kyle and is a sermon speaker and lecturer at various Churches and Fellowships. His interests include, the Bible, sports of all kinds, world history, weightlifting, astronomy & numismatics. He is known by his friends as friendly, fun, energetic and the neighborhood champion in playing "Jeopardy" trivia quiz type games.
He is a contributor to the landmark "Total Baseball" the official encyclopedia and statistics book of Major League Baseball. Bill is the Treasurer for Abundant Living Ministries, a humanitarian, fully volunteer charity, that has no paid staff and uses 100% of its contributions for direct aid to the street children of Vinogradov, Ukraine.
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