From Mexico to the U.S., a Nafta Tale of Two Truckers
Only 38 Mexican carriers were authorized to make deliveries past the border zone, with fewer than 500 drivers — Mr. Miranda not among them.
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1993, the United States agreed
to eventually let drivers like Mr. Miranda deposit their cargoes anywhere.
Like foreign airlines, Mexican truckers can’t take things between two American locations; they can only go in and out.
As trade between Mexico and the United States exploded in the wake of Nafta, new career paths emerged for men like Mr. Miranda.
The Trump administration has thrown its America First agenda behind the cause in the Nafta negotiations, demanding
that Mexico agree to a provision that could, in the future, block its drivers from making deliveries into the middle of the United States.
“Those guys just want to come here, make their money and go home,” Mr. Flores said.
He became a United States citizen, giving him the right to drive through the American heartland
and earn good money delivering washing machines and broccoli sent from Mexico.
“‘We are going to enhance the value of this asset by firing all the American workers and replacing them with $2.50-an-hour Mexican drivers.’”
At Werner Enterprises, Mr. Flores hopped into his tractor as soon as he got the word from his bosses.
“I didn’t think it would be such a sacrifice,” Mr. Miranda said.
It is the line that Mexican drivers can’t cross without a permit — the end of the border zone.
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