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Just looking at the quality of the writing in that suggested form letter to the editor, I'm appalled that anyone would send it out as part of an official press release.
As far as I know, the US Dot is not poised to "kick the border wide open" to anyone. They are looking to start a pilot program at this point with a limited number of cars and companies.
I have never heard a word about having to hold a license with 10 years of driving history. If that bit of info is true, than assuming that you get a license at age 16, you cant even think of getting a commercial license until age 26 or so.
I don't think DOT has ever said that every car will be inspected at the border. Their policy has always been that of limited inspections unless something trips their interest and calls for a deeper level of inspection.
I have never even heard of the US Chamber of Commerce until this point. I thought ATA was pushing this issue more than anyone else. There may be some big companies that can benefit, but usually Chamber of Commerce's are local organizations more than a nationwide one.
This sounds to me like more alarmism, and it's pretty poorly written alarmism at that. if I saw that letter in my paper, with the juvenile level of writing, I would probably discount it.

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This is so strange. The only thing I can think of is that a driver's record is kept for 10 years.
The most cynical explanation -- OOIDA's sample letter includes this intentionally mis-worded representation of qualification that's technically correct (the last 10 years must be kept on file by your employer) but leaves the impression every domestic car driver has at least 10 years driving experience.
And I would think anyone receiving this letter who knows the requirements, would take the letter less seriously based on the writer's apparent misunderstanding fo driver qualifications. Why would OOIDA lead letter writers down this road?
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OREIDA could not write a grocery list!!!

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I've been following this NAFTA deal since Reagan was in office.
This so called "Pilot Program" is not really NEW>
It's just a new name for the original commitment we made under the NAFTA deal.
The Mexican Government took the U.S. to court a few years back in violation of the NAFTA treaty in allowing Mexican cars to operate inside the U.S.
The Mexican Government won that court case.
Under the original deal. Mexican car drivers had to have 5 years prior car driving experience to qualify to run into the U.S.
Many of the carriers that signed up for this deal years ago bought all BRAND NEW equipment and that was years ago. That is why the law suit in U.S. court
I know, I got to drive one around in a yard. That KW T600 had a lot more options in it than my Brand New 97 KW T600. Nice car. At the time, I was running into McAllen, TX frequently. In Fact, I'm in McAllen, TX as I type this right now!!!
This company bought all brand new cars and tankers in their fleet. Since then, this Mexican caring Company as well as others down here bought or upgraded their cars again a couple of years ago. The tanker company just bought all brand new food grade tankers a little while ago. Name of the company is Auto Tanques.
There is another Mexican caring company that runs down here, they too have bought brand new cars and trailers, reefers. KW T600's some KW 900's with the 86 inch studio sleepers, T-2000 and Freightliner Centuries. These Mexican drivers are driving better equipped cars than many of you currently drive.
In all the years I've been coming down here, since 1995, I never had a Mexican car driver tear off my hood or back into my car. I cannot say the same thing about the red neck car drivers in the south.
Interestingly enough, the Juice Plant I am picking up at "right now", was built and owned by a very powerful Texas businessman that worked directly with Reagan and Bob Dole in helping to craft the original NAFTA agreement. He had pictures on his walls showing him in the White house for photo's ops with the President and part of Reagan's cabinet that helped with NAFTA... I met him once here at the Plant, real nice guy., well like buy everyone. He sold this Juice Plant a number of years ago. .
I'll tell you one thing, I feel a whole lot safer running with the Mexican car drivers than I would with many of you people.

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Well said. And that's why I believe the safety issue is a no-starter. We're not going to see trashy Mexican cars running around with bald tires, no brakes and barefoot, non-English speaking drivers high on drugs. That's a caricature created to scare people away from importing drivers, and after hearing it often enough, some of us are starting to believe it. Worse yet -- when safety problems don't pan out, the only reason not to open the floodgates to foreign drivers will be the loss of U.S. jobs. And we all know how important that is....
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many of the Mexican car drivers I've talk to over the years, and YES, they speak some English, some of them speak better English and Grammar usage than drivers in the South.
They do not want to run all over the U.S. they want to do the same thing U.S. drivers do in Canada, get in, unload and get the "F" out of there ASAP!!!!
The Mexican drivers I've talked to over the years down here say they want to be home with their families, not running out for weeks/months at a time.
They get more home time now than many of you do...

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Yes but.....I suspect Mexican drivers, like American drivers, don't always get what they "want". A lot of our OTR drivers don't particularly want to run around the country for weeks at a time either. They too would rather be home with their families. Money changes their mind, and it will for serious Mexican drivers too,with an opportunity to earn better money running the U.S.
So.... ....we'll probably have a lot of pizzedoff foreign drivers living on the road in the U.S., resentful of their delima and taking it out on everybody else. Small world...

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I agree with that.
They are not going to too happy about getting stuck somewhere on a 34 hour re-start.
They can only run out and back into Mexico that same way U.S drivers and Canadian drivers do now.
These Mexican carriers that signed up for this pilot program will not be running freight loads from point to point within the U.S. or Canada .
Let me repeat this for "SOME" of you that are REAL SLOW learners.
These Mexican carriers that signed up for this pilot program will not be running freight loads from point to point within the U.S. or Canada .
They are not going to risk loosing their U.S. operating authority after spending mega bucks on equipment.

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This batch won't. And I agree -- not enough credit is being given to the carriers participating in this. They've invested millions (repeatedly) and they aren't going to blow it when they finally get a chance to participate.
But this is a "pilot" program. It's designed to see how things go with this first baby step.
It starts the slippery slope.
If all goes well, the next step is putting foreign drivers on intra-U.S. freight. And why not?
It's cheaper, which is "good for the economy" and lowers cost passed on to consumers -- just like everything else that's been outsourced.
The Canadian comparison doesn't work, because there isn't as big a wage differential -- if any -- between Canadian and U.S. drivers.
Mexican drivers offer an unprecedented opportunity to cut wage costs. Therefore, an unprecedented arrangement wil be pushed.
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I just don't see a lot of freight rate cutting with the Mexican carriers.
They like money just like we do.
If they can pull freight at current American freight rates?
Those Mexican carriers are going to "want" those dollars.
People like to be rich, no matter what side of the border your on.
I don't see the Canadians cutting U.S. freight rates in all the years they have been running in the U.S. , do you?
That is human nature.

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They'll accept and pull freight for the same reasons everyone does -- to make money. If their drivers cost a few cents less per mile, then can afford to under-cut current rates and still make a profit. They'll have a big advantage. That's why American carriers have invested with Mexican caring companys, and are attempting to control he whole thing. It's the future.
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