Mexican companies begin US deliveries

WASHINGTON, Ind. (WTHI) - For the first time ever Mexican trucking companies are now allowed to operate on U.S. Highways.

Mexican authorities celebrated the event, while American trucking firms protested.

The change was part of the North American Free Trade Agreement passed 20 years ago, but stalled by U.S. concerns about jobs and safety.

Even haulers in the Wabash Valley are worried about the impact of the change.

Just outside of Washington I-69 construction is moving forward.

The highway will eventually be a 4-lane link from Canada to Mexico that runs through part of the Wabash Valley.

Because of the NAFTA deal decades ago, the trucks on it won't just be American, many could be from Mexico, and that is a big concern to the owner of JT Express.

"I think it's a very big and a very real threat," said Dennis Breeden with JT Express. "They're not subject to all the laws we are right now. They're not subject to the level three inspections."

Breeden had three trailors and no trucks on his lot on Friday.

He says after two rough years, the company is in full recovery and all of the trucks are out on the road.

Breeden would like to expand but it is tough to do when he is not getting support from his own government.

"Why our congress would allow more jobs to go across the border I have no idea," he said, "but it's going to be devastating here to the trucking industry. I'm afraid a lot of people are going to lose jobs and companies like mine are going to go under eventually."

The trucking troubles are part of what one congressional candidate calls the continuing problem in building the economy.

"The fact that small business can be the engine that really gets this economy rolling again and Congress continues to do nothing is inexcusable," said 8th District Democrat Congressional Candidate Dave Crooks.

So now small companies like JT Express that were beginning to look ahead, see a rocky road in their future.

The Mexican trucks will all be required to have on-board recorders to automatically keep track of them.

The Mexican companies though did not buy them.

They were purchased with $2.5 million American tax dollars.