By: José María Gaxiola Duarte, Director of El Trocadero CAADES
In it Nogales border crossingthe industry of the transport faces challenges significant that affect your economy and operability. The proposal for a joint project between the United States State and Federal Transportation Authorities and the carriers seeks to address these concerns effectively. Next, we will analyze some key aspects:
Economic impact:
The cross-border carriers have experienced a decrease in the crossing of perishables across this border. Factors such as the lack of commercial drivers, inflation and high diesel prices and the dynamism of other borders have contributed to this situation. Likewise, rigorous inspections by the United States Federal Department of Transportation result in substantial fines, affecting the profit margin of carriers.
Inconsistencies in Inspections:
Carriers have come to wonder why, even if they have not transited in the United States, they receive fines right after crossing the border without leaving the checkpoint. OR Why aren’t they allowed to make on-site repairs and remove “out of service” from the inspection report?
Officials have cited congressional mandates as justification, but the lack of correlation between inspections and accidents raises legitimate questions.
Language barrier:
The safety rating of commercial drivers is affected by the language barrier. Reports indicate that federal inspectors point out the lack of English spoken by drivers.
Differentiated Treatment:
The transportation industry expresses displeasure with disparate treatment between state and federal transportation agencies. They have also requested a review of issues such as the “Unified Transport Registry” (UCR) tax or why they still cannot pay the “International Fuel Tax Agreement” (IFTA) online. In addition, flexibility is sought to make immediate repairs and have them recorded in the reports to avoid unfair fines.
Greater Efficiency and Transparency in International Transportation:
A proposal is requested to implement “Safe, Effective, Efficient and Fast International Transportation” (SEERTI) courses for Mexican drivers, which would be a significant step towards improving physical-mechanical inspection times and the safety of commercial vehicles.
Competitiveness and Transparency:
Joint work between Transport Companies with Clients (farmers) who send loads (trailer boxes) in poor condition would be crucial to guarantee competitiveness and transparency in transport. By certifying drivers, greater confidence in the quality of service is encouraged.
Current Challenges:
The high number of inspections in Nogales has been a cause for concern. The Federal Commercial Motor Transportation Safety Administration (USDOT-FMCSA) seeks consistency in practices among transportation agencies.
Pilot Program Proposal in Nogales:
It consists of a program so that transportation companies can respond to “Notice of Violation” reports by the Department. of Transportation within 30 days and the number of reports per company will be considered to provide support. The start date of this pilot program will be given soon in collaboration with the Federal and State Department of Transportation. from Arizona.
In short, it is crucial to establish a constructive dialogue between the parties involved to find solutions that benefit both the transportation industry and border security. Collaboration and mutual understanding are essential to achieve a more equitable and efficient system.
This collaborative and transparent approach has the potential to improve efficiency, reduce unfair fines and preserve the quality of merchandise transported at the Nogales border crossing, hopefully we will soon see it crystallized.
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