This'n'That; December Nineteenth #1; XM Radio

She 'Pushed' My Friend Out
    As I've said in previous posts, "Slam" Duncan has been a friend "since the turn of the century."  I'd met "Slam" as a caller to the XM-Radio show he 'subbed' on: "The Dave Nemo Show."  We became friends, talking several times a week as well on-air during the Sunday Nemo Show.  As happens with the political 'ins-and-outs' of radio, Mr Duncan was quietly pushed out in favor of Marica (mar-SEE-aa) Campbell.  Ms Campbell--to me--seemed unable to carry the show on her own, even with interested--and interesting--truckers calling in!!
    Ms Campbell found her way into the pages of LandLine Magazine, a publication from Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).  As the story relates, after the merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM-Radio, the primary focus of the trucking channel became talk-info rather than music-gossip.  Seems Ms Campbell had no place in the altered concept of "The Dave Nemo Show."  She now hosts her own show--"The WSM All-Nighter"--on WSM 650 AM (http://www.wsmonline.com/).
    As one who holds grudges for long, long periods of time, I've softened my opinion of Marcia Campbell.  No longer is she the woman who pushed my friend off XM-Radio; she's the lady who serves to provide an important service to the nation's trucking industry!!
Til Nex'Time....

This'n'That; December Twelfth #3; Mexican Trucking

Socio-Fascism STILL Rampant!
    As is the norm around my house, we're usually too busy to keep up with the printed material that comes it.  To that end, I started reading the NOVEMBER issue of LandLine Magazine from OOIDA.  The back page of the magazine has a column of "Roses and Razzberries."  That means kudos to those who do positives with and for the trucking industry; 'razzberries' for those who defame the industry.
    Someone--possibly the editors--gave Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio "roses" for a letter he wrote to the FMCSA Administrator, quering her motives as she administers the Cross-Border Trucking Initiative as perscribed by NAFTA.  The letter:

September 16, 2011

The Honorable Anne S. Ferro
AdministratorFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave,
SEWashington, DC 20590
Dear Administrator Ferro:
    I am writing to express my concern over the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) recent actions to move one step closer to allowing Mexican trucking companies to operate long-haul in the United States, in advance of fulfilling a statutory mandate to correct deficiencies in its proposed program and to report to Congress.  In 2007, in response to the previous Administration's attempt to rush into an ill-advised trucking pilot program, Congress required the Office of Inspector General (IG) to audit FMCSA's readiness to enforce compliance with U.S. safety rules and regulations before the agency could initiate any future pilot program (Section 6901, P.L. 110-28). The law requires FMCSA to take action to address any issues raised by the IG, and to report to Congress on the measures taken. The IG completed its audit on August 19 and made the results available to the public on September 6, 2011.
    The report identified a number of areas that FMCSA must address. Specifically, the IG found that FMCSA did not yet have plans in place to: conduct on-site safety reviews in Mexico for at least half of participating carriers, as required by law; ensure that pilot program drivers and trucks are identified and inspected at each unique border crossing; verify driver and truck eligibility for the pilot program; acquire electronic monitoring devices for use in the pilot program; and train inspection and enforcement personnel at the border and within the United States.
    To date, FMSCA has not sent a report to Congress or otherwise communicated plans to address the issues identified by the IG. Yet the agency is moving full speed ahead. On the same day the audit was made public, FMCSA published in the FMCSA Register the application of the first Mexican carrier to successfully complete a pre-authorization safety audit. This week, FMCSA published the name of another carrier. According to FMCSA's regulations, listing a carrier in the FMCSA register is a "preliminary grant of operating authority" (49 CFR 365.507). I fail to see how the agency is authorized to grant authority prior to meeting all statutory requirements.
    This further reinforces my longstanding concern that the Administration is not launching a pilot program, but rather starting the full liberalization of cross-border trucking that will have significant impacts on safety, security, and American jobs. Proceeding with the processing of Mexican carriers' applications on a separate track from meeting any requirements the agency believes apply to the pilot program confirms that FMCSA intends for this pilot program to casually terminate and morph into an open border. This flies in the face of the limitation enacted by Congress. I know you hold FMCSA's mission to protect the safety of the traveling public in the highest regard.
    I hope you will agree that addressing the deficiencies identified by the Inspector General in a meaningful way is the only prudent course before Mexican trucks can be permitted to operate long-haul in the U.S.
Sincerely,
Peter A. DeFazio

  Apparently, Ms Ferro has partaken of the owe-bama "KoolAid" in her administration of the safety aspects of her position as Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  As such, she's tasked by statute for the safety of both the various portions of those 'motor carrier' aspects as well as the safety of the general public.  she is failing miserably, just as Mr DeFazio is suggesting!!
    One needs to spend but twenty-minutes in a border city such as Laredo, El Paso, Brownsville, Texas; Nogales, Douglas, Arizona; Otey Mesa, California, to witness the general lawlessness that permeates the country of Mexico!!
    Need we another reason for impeachment?!?
Til Nex'Time....