Changes

==Shipping==

==Shipping==

In the United States, most products are shipped via professional trucking. In prior times, the [[railroad]] shipped a lot of goods, but the development of the [[National Highway System]] and the consequent general shift from rail transit to the automobile is put more emphasis on trucks as opposed to rail. Very little [[freight]] is transported by air; air mail being one key exception. (In contrast to the public [[USPS]], [[privatized]] mail services such as [[UPS]] and [[Federal Express]] still deliver mail in trucks.) Each day, more than 1 million tractor trailers and semis hit the road.

In the United States, most products are shipped via professional trucking. In prior times, the [[railroad]] shipped a lot of goods, but the development of the [[National Highway System]] and the consequent general shift from rail transit to the automobile is put more emphasis on trucks as opposed to rail. Very little [[freight]] is transported by air; air mail being one key exception. (In contrast to the public [[USPS]], [[privatized]] mail services such as [[UPS]] and [[Federal Express]] still deliver mail in trucks.) Each day, more than 1 million tractor trailers and semis hit the road.

==Regulation==

==Regulation and Mexico==

Professional trucking is a lightly [[regulation|regulated]] industry. Most trucking companies police themselves, with the caveat that the federal government requires a certain standard of behavior to be met by each employed trucker. For example, truckers coming into the United States from [[Mexico]] must be U.S. citizens, or else have [[green card]]s that allow them to work within the United States of America. Furthermore, they must be fluent in English, which is necessary to understand essential road signs such as traffic lights and speed limits.

Professional trucking is a lightly [[regulation|regulated]] industry. Most trucking companies police themselves, with the caveat that the federal government requires a certain standard of behavior to be met by each employed trucker. For example, truckers coming into the United States from Mexico must be U.S. citizens, or else have [[green card]]s that allow them to work within the United States of America. Furthermore, they must be fluent in English, which is necessary to understand essential road signs such as traffic lights and speed limits. American truck companies and drivers have opposed increased competition from Mexican trucks and truckers, and have forced cancellation of an experimental program. This has caused diplomatic tension between the U.S. and Mexico.

 

==Images==

==Images==

The image of the "lone trucker" as an outlaw in American [[pop culture]] has been erected over the years in films such as ''[[Smokey and the Bandit]]'' and ''[[Buckaroo Banzai]]'', songs such as "[[Convoy]]", and modern TV shows such as ''[[Ice Road Truckers]]''. To combat this perception, some organizations have called for stricter [[certification]] procedures for professional truckers. For example, truckers might have to pass a written test or even a driving test before being issued their rolling papers. Such calls have met with stern disapproval from trucking companies.

The image of the "lone trucker" as an outlaw in American [[pop culture]] has been erected over the years in films such as ''[[Smokey and the Bandit]]'' and ''[[Buckaroo Banzai]]'', songs such as "[[Convoy]]", and modern TV shows such as ''[[Ice Road Truckers]]''. To combat this perception, some organizations have called for stricter [[certification]] procedures for professional truckers. For example, truckers might have to pass a written test or even a driving test before being issued their rolling papers. Such calls have met with stern disapproval from trucking companies.