If Mexican officials are frustrated with Americans over trucking issues, they should consider why American truckers like Mark Cervantes can't sympathize too much.

Truckdriver and OOIDA member Mark Cervantes had spent about four hours on the Mexico side of the border waiting for his load to get authorized when he was told by customs officials that his tractor-trailer and load were being seized. More than three weeks later, Cervantes says he has yet to see his truck.

On July 6, Cervantes, of Round Rock, TX, crossed the border at Pharr on his way to Belize in Central America. Once on the Mexican side of the border, customs checked his paperwork and cut his seals. Officials removed several cases from the trailer to check its contents. Cervantes, who has been transferring freight from Los Angeles to Belize for the past two years, provided all the documents needed for an in-transit shipment. "I was told that everything was in order and as soon as the new seals were put on the trailer I would be on my way," Cervantes said.

He immediately contacted his broker. After about four hours Cervantes' broker contacted him and informed him that a Mexican law restricting the shipment of electrical items, shoes, plywood, toys and several other items through Mexico had just been passed. "My truck, the trailer, and the entire load were then seized by the Mexican customs with no further information," Cervantes said.

Despite numerous reassurances from his broker that the truck soon would be released back to him, Cervantes has yet to get his truck back. He says his broker now appears unwilling to assist him recover the truck.

Cervantes says he's driven through Mexico for two years with no major incidents except for the usual stops along the road by the police, who demand money for their coffee. "These payments are usually small, about ten bucks U.S.," says Cervantes, "which you pay rather than being searched and harassed by them."

OOIDA's Director of Conflict Resolution, Gary Green, said, "We are working very closely with Mr. Cervantes to assimilate all the facts in this situation." Green said dealing with authorities south of the border is unbelievably frustrating and enlisting the assistance of help this side of the border is equally difficult. "In a situation like this, you are in no man's land," added Green.