US, Mexican Trucks
Will Begin Cross-Border Demo Program
Simultaneously
[Posted 5/01/07]
According to US Secretary of Transportation Mary E.
Peters, some US trucks will begin operating in
Mexico at the same time a select group of Mexican
trucks begin operating north of the commercial
border zone in the US as part of the year-long
demonstration program. The simultaneous start of the
cross-border trucking program was based on recent
discussions with the Mexican government and the US
Congress.
The
Department of Transportation first announced the
demonstration program to expand cross-border
trucking operations with Mexico last February. It
aims to eliminate the current cumbersome, outdated
and costly system of moving freight across the
border, and replace it with a more efficient,
transparent and safe cross-border trucking process.
The project is part of the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) implementation of
the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
cross-border trucking provisions. It will allow up
to 100 Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate
throughout the United States for one year and in
return, up to 100 US-domiciled motor carriers will
be granted reciprocal rights to operate in Mexico
for the same period.
All
participating Mexican carriers and drivers will be
required to comply with all applicable US laws and
regulations, including those concerned with motor
carrier safety, customs, immigration, vehicle
registration and taxation, and fuel taxation. In
particular, US inspectors will conduct in-person
safety audits to ensure participating Mexican
companies comply with US safety regulations. All
participating Mexican truck drivers are required to
hold a valid commercial drivers license, comply
with US medical requirements, comply with all U.S.
hours-of-service rules and be able to understand
questions and directions in English. Mexican truck
companies that are allowed to participate must have
insurance with a US-licensed firm and meet all US
safety standards, including drug and alcohol
testing. Companies that meet these stringent
standards will be allowed to make international
pick up and deliveries. FMCSA, its State partners,
a joint US-Mexico monitoring group, and an
independent evaluation panel will carefully track
the safety compliance of the participating
carriers. The resulting data from this
demonstration program will be considered carefully
before further decisions are made concerning the
implementation of the NAFTA trucking provisions.
The specifics of the trucking program are discussed
in the Federal Register notice. The department is
seeking the public’s comment over the next 30 days.
Comments must be received on or before 6/1/07.
Related Links:
OHR News Summary from February 2007
Federal Register Notice
Return to News
Summary Page:
Occupational Health News Summaries