American Truckers At War

By Manuel C. Coppola

Disgruntled truckers south of the border have been making waves in the produce industry since Saturday.

Alison Moore, communications director for Fresh Produce Association of the Americas said that on Saturday at about noon, a group of Mexican tractor-trailer rigs were blocking the border as drivers protested the time it takes to cross through Mexican Customs.

They were upset that just two of the four lanes at Mexican Customs have been in operation for the past several days, Moore said. Additionally, they were protesting that all Mexican trucks were being sent through one gamma-ray machine causing more delays.

At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Mexican Customs opened the remaining two commercial crossing lanes. But the drivers refused to cross until they received an agreement that all four lanes would be opened on Monday and that customs officers would select only a percentage of trucks to send through the gamma-ray machine, instead of checking 100 percent of the trucks. More from Nogales International

Let them strike - but continue to inspect 100 percent of every truck coming across the border. We have posted many stories about drugs being found in tractor trailers hauling produce across the Mexican border, not to mention the threat of terrorism (for those who forgot - we are still at war), it should be mandatory that every truck be inspected and each and every truck and driver comply with OUR Federal regulations.
RTaylor