Western States Truck Centers acquires International dealership

Western States Truck Centers has acquired Missoula Truck Sales of Montana. Missoula operates International Truck dealerships serving the Missoula, Helena, and Kalispell markets of Montana.

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?This is a huge step forward in our long journey to be a full-service truck dealership,? said Tom Terteling, CEO and dealer principal, Western States Trucks. ?Many of our current customers use trucks for work in the forestry, sand and gravel, and general construction fields. Adding a well-respected International Truck dealership to our business allows us to better serve our existing and new customers, including trucks dedicated to over the road, local, regional, RV and school bus type applications.?

Mike and Loren Burton, owners of Missoula, are retiring after 50 years in the business.

The centers will serve both International and Cat truck customers.

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Should Trucks from Mexico be allowed in the United States?

The issue of trucks from Mexico being allowed to enter the United States is one that comes with plenty of controversy attached to it. The volumes of letters that various political offices have received from truck drivers and business owners in the trucking company indicate that this is not a welcomed change in the field of the trucking industry. Many are afraid it will compromise the contracts they have in place as the workers from Mexico will be willing to haul the loads for a lower price.

Even with such resistance, a pilot program was allowed to move forward in September of 2007. This allowed an initial 859 carriers from Mexico to begin entering the United States for work. This project is being monitored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It is not known if the program will be able to continue as there is already a motion on the floor of the United States legislation to bring it to a halt.

The biggest complaints from regular citizens seem to be with the concern that they don’t believe trucks coming from Mexico will be safe. Under the initial pilot program agreements, all of the drivers must be able to read and write English at an acceptable level. This way they can safely navigate with the road signs, talk to law enforcement, and complete necessary paperwork.

There are no restrictions on the products that the trucks from Mexico can bring into the United States or take back to Mexico. Many are concerned that this allows them to haul hazardous materials. They also worry about the possibility of more semi trucks being used for drug trafficking purposes under such an agreement. Many people believe it is not safe to have individuals from other countries coming into the United States with the ability to haul dangerous materials. With the risk of terrorist attacks being possible with the use of such products on semi trucks it is definitely something to think about.

Yet there are some positive attributes to the thought of allowing trucks from Mexico into the United States. There is a shortage of qualified truck drivers to keep up with the demand for the amount of freight to be hauled. With the new hours of service laws, it is taking even longer for the work to be completed. With the additional trucks it is hopeful that it will help the overall industry.

Under the outlined plans only a specific number of trucks would be allowed to enter the United States from Mexico. It wouldn’t be an open door policy as many in the trucking industry have been lead to believe. The qualifications of the drivers will be carefully reviewed and the trucks will have to meet inspection requirements for the United States before they can enter.

In addition, the trucks are to be inspected by their independent carriers every 90 days. This is to be in effect for the first three years of the program. At the border there will be scales and inspectors as well. They will work for the United States and they will have the authority to deny any truck coming from Mexico access into the United States.

They also have the authority to inspect the qualifications of the driver of the vehicle. There will be an electronic monitoring system in place to check licensing requirements. This process is expected to introduce 200 new jobs by the end of 2007. It is believed it will be virtually impossible to fake the credentials to drive a semi truck into the United States with the electronic process in place.

It is also believed that this agreement with Mexico could result in trucks from the United States being able to freely travel into Mexico. This could generate millions of dollars in revenue due to the fact that it would allow the border to become an area of free trade. This is likely to be a controversial issue that continues in the political arena for quite some time.

The Requirements to Operate a Big Rig in the United States

Thousands of men and women drive big rigs in order to get the goods to the stores for us to conveniently walk in and buy. They also haul dirty and other materials for building homes and roads. Just as each person needs to fulfill basic requirements in order to get a traditional driver’s license, there are requirements in order to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate a big rig.

There are two types of tests that have to be successfully passed in order to obtain a CDL in the United States. There is a written test that goes over the various rules and regulations. This is completed first at any local Department of Motor Vehicles or through a truck driving school. There is also a driving test that has to be completed just like there is for operating a regular vehicle.

An individual must be at least 21 years of age before they are allowed to apply for a CDL. There are some special laws that apply for individuals from 16-20 years old who operate semi trucks used in conjunction with agricultural work. They also have to be able to successfully read and write English due to the many road signs pertaining to trucks on the road and the necessary paperwork.

The Department of Transportation requires all CDL license holders to successfully pass a physical completed by a doctor trained in their requirements. This physical has to be renewed annually in order for the individual to remain in compliance. Since the terrorist attacks of 09/11/01, those individuals applying for a CDL also have to be a citizen of the United States and pass a background check.

There are special endorsements for a CDL that a person can apply for as well. Hauling chemicals and flammable materials requires the individual to complete a Hazardous Materials course. Upon doing so they will be given an endorsement to acknowledge this on their drivers license. To find out the specification of obtaining such endorsements ask your local DMV or take a look at the information found online.

The driving record of an individual is going to determine if they are able to obtain a CDL. While you can if you meet all the other requirements and have a valid traditional driver’s license, it doesn’t mean you will be able to get a job. Most employers look very closely at a driving record when hiring drivers. The cost of insurance for big rigs is very expensive, and the get a discount when they have a fleet of drivers with a safe driving history.

Any individual holding a CDL has to understand that they can lose this privilege if their regular driving privileges are suspended or revoked. In many states failure to pay child support according to the court order can result in a driver’s license being suspended. This can also happen due to excessive amounts of speeding tickets, accidents, or driving under the influence of alcohol.

There are various ways in which a person can learn how to operate a big rig. Many students enroll in a truck driving school. This is a program that lasts for several weeks and teaches them all the fundamentals for both passing the written exam and the driving test. Most students master the rules faster than they do the driving skills. Instructors watch closely and work with students in many areas until they master the necessary skills to safely operate a big rig on the public highways.

Others learn from someone else who already holds a CDL. It is very common for fathers to teach their sons how to do this, especially if they have a business where holding a CDL is vital. The rules for obtaining a CDL in the United States are in place to ensure that the roads are safe. They are also in place to prevent those who have a poor driving record from having control of such a large and powerful piece of equipment.