Truckers Plan Blockade of White House to Protest Allowing Mexican Truckers to Operate in Country

A "rolling blockade" of the White House and state capitols is being planned by long haul trucker drivers who are afraid of losing their jobs because of a plan to allow Mexican long-haul truck drivers to operate in the United States it was announced today. Those who participate in the "Truck Out" are also being asked to operate their vehicles at the minimum speed allowed by law.

Although there are plans to let the Mexican truck drivers operate in the United States, United States Representative Duncan Hunter, a Republican Presidential candidate from California, at the end of March introduced legislation to bar the trucks from operating freely in the United States until certain conditions are met to ensure safety and security.

A pilot plan would allow 100 Mexican companies to operate their trucks anywhere in the United States. Hunter said he was concerned about "safety and security risks" involved with allowing the truck drivers access anywhere in the United States. The pilot plan has drawn opposition in Congress and in Mexico. Hunter said the pilot program could cause dangerous and unsafe vehicle traffic.

Hunter said his legislation, the NAFTA Safety Trucking Act "applies to Mexican truckers the same rules and regulations applied to American truckers, preventing unqualified and inexperienced motor carriers from traveling the highways." He said if Mexican truckers cannot meet those qualifications, they should not be granted access to American highways.

The blockade of the White House and state capitols to protest the access to Mexican truckers is planned for April 23 to April 25. That will coincide with the Hold Their Feet to the Fire radio and talk show marathon in Washington. The radio marathon is being planned by the Federation for Immigration Reform.

Frosty Woolridge, a writer and talk show host who drove 18-wheelers for two decades and who first called for the protest, said, "Every American truck driver's job is at risk." He said American truck drivers will see their wages cut or will lose their jobs altogether if the pilot program is not stopped.