US moves a step closer to allowing Mexican trucks full access to US highways

International Herald Tribune ^ | Aug 18, 2007 | Associated Press

[djf]

WASHINGTON: Some Mexican trucks will be allowed to carry cargo anywhere in the United States as soon as a U.S. inspector general certifies safety and inspection plans, the administration of President George W. Bush announced Friday. The latest step toward implementing a controversial provision of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement drew instant condemnation from labor and driver-owner groups that fear the program will erode highway safety and eliminate U.S. jobs. The decision was announced by a Transportation Department notice in the Federal Register, a daily compendium of new federal rules read mostly by lobbyists and lawyers. A one-year demonstration project allowing 100 Mexican motor carriers full access to U.S. roads will begin as soon as the department's inspector general certifies that safety and inspection plans and facilities are sufficient to ensure the Mexican trucks are at least as safe as U.S. trucks. That requirement was imposed by Congress. Mexican trucks are now confined to commercial zones within about 25 miles (40.2 kilometers) of the border. The inspector general's report to Congress is expected soon. Teamster Union president Jim Hoffa questioned the timing — during Congress' August recess — of the administration's decision "to move forward with its hugely unpopular program to throw open our borders to unsafe Mexican trucks." Hoffa noted that the U.S. House of Representatives voted last month to cut off funding for the program but that the Senate has yet to vote. The Transportation Department concluded the demonstration, involving about 10 percent of the Mexican truckers who applied, "is sufficient to determine whether the safety oversight program" can ensure there will be no erosion of highway safety.

[Lovebloggers]

Let’ see the trucks are already deemed to be safe (please go to link to learn the extent of inspections/oversight will be):
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“We are ready with modern inspection facilities, and we have hired and trained hundreds of inspectors. All told, 540 federal and state inspectors are already on the job, standing by to screen trucks coming across the border from Mexico to ensure that both the drivers and their vehicles are safe to make deliveries in the United States.

And under our safety inspection plan, each and every truck in the demonstration program will be checked, and any unsafe vehicle or unfit driver will be taken off the road.

Our records show that Mexican trucks currently operating in the commercial zone are as safe as the trucks operated by companies here in the United States. We know this because federal and state inspectors are already screening the trucks crossing into our country from Mexico.

We have years of experience, we have a rigorous safety inspection plan in place, and we have the facilities and the trained professionals to carry it out”

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/cbtsip/peters022307.htm
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2001 article that touches on the serious problems related to the archaic system in place:

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Over the past 15 years, U.S. trade with Mexico has increased 400 percent—from $48 billion to $239 billion—yet neither Mexico nor the United States has made the adjustments necessary to handle the growing traffic. Unlike U.S. commerce with any other nation but Canada, U.S.–Mexico trade is mostly truck trade. And whether truckers use busy Texas, California or Arizona crossings, they face congestion and long waits, usually associated with government inspections and customs processing.

http://www.dallasfed.org/eyi/global/0109border.html

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