CHARACTERISTICS OF CAMIONETA VAN OPERATIONS IN TEXAS

Camionetas are 15-passenger vans that operate essentially in the same general manner as motor coach carriers in that they are carriers-for-hire, transporting individuals for a fee between predetermined points. Historically they have operated outside of Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations regarding hours of service, and driver qualifications and testing under an exemption for vehicles that carry 15 or fewer passengers. However, the United States Congress has mandated that these carriers now be included in the regulations that cover motor coaches. As a result of years of being virtually unregulated, currently there are few records to indicate the number of vehicles in service, their routes, maintenance standards, or accident rates. A major objective of this research was to gain a basic understanding of the nature of camioneta operations. A secondary objective was to make recommendations regarding the design of a safety education effort for camioneta operators prior to enforcement of the new regulations. It was discovered that the primary routes of camioneta vans originate along the Texas/Mexico border, proceed to major Texas cities including Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas and to points beyond including such distant cities as New Orleans, Atlanta, and Chicago. The research undertaken for this paper indicates that a significant number of these vehicles also serve as major conveyances of illegal aliens. Smugglers who operate camioneta vans are, in most instances, able to escape prosecution because, as carriers-for-hire, they have no liability for the alien status of their passengers. The research also indicates that the drivers operate the vehicles for long hours, the vans cover great distances, and a poor level of awareness of safety regulations and training exists among drivers. It was also found that a major attraction for customers to the camioneta vans is that the vans offer door-to-door service as opposed to departing and arriving at a fixed, published location. The research also indicates the camioneta vans often operate from poorly identified, informal, and mobile (temporary) locations. This paper offers recommendations to identify camioneta operators in order to educate them regarding safety and operational regulations, registration of vehicles with the proper authorities, and other obligations they face as motor-carriers for hire. Those recommendations take special consideration of the cultural, regulatory, and business environments in which camioneta operators function.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Center for Transportation Research
  Conference Center Building
  Knoxville, TN  United States  37996-4133

  National Safety Council

  1121 Spring Lake Drive
  Itasca, IL  United States  60143
• Authors:
  • Ellis, D R
  • Hanley, P
• Conference:
  • International Truck and Bus Safety Research and Policy Symposium
  • Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
  • Date: 2002-4-3 to 2002-4-5
• Publication Date: 2002-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 511-521

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Border regions; Businesses; Crash rates; Culture (Social sciences); Door to door service; Drivers; For hire carriers; Hours of labor; Laws; Legal factors; Liability; Location; Maintenance; Motor carriers; Operations; Operators (Persons); Passenger transportation; Qualifications; Registration; Routes; Safety education; Smuggling; Standards; Traffic safety; Vans
• Uncontrolled Terms: Camionetas; Illegal aliens
• Geographic Terms: Atlanta (Georgia); Chicago (Illinois); Dallas (Texas); Houston (Texas); New Orleans (Louisiana); San Antonio (Texas)
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Education and Training; Highways; Law; Maintenance and Preservation; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Research; Security and Emergencies; Society; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00924790
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 3 2002 12:00AM