Mexican Truckers Could Get the Okay to Enter the United States
It’s back to the drawing board for a plan to let Mexican trucks bring long-haul cargo into the United States.
The U.S. Department of Transportation released a “concept” document on Jan. 6 that would gradually lead to the U.S. border being opened to Mexican long-haul trucks.
A one-year pilot program to allow 100 Mexican trucking companies to bring in cargo beyond 20 miles from the U.S. border was launched in 2007. But it was shelved when Congress closed down the program in early 2009.Mexico than instituted a number of tariffs on $2.5 billion of U.S. exports in retaliation.
The decision to allow Mexican long-haul trucks into the United States and U.S. long-haul truckers into Mexico was originally agreed upon in the North American Free Trade Agreement, which went into effect in 1994. That bilateral exchange of trucks was to be implemented by 2000. But concerns related to poor emissions in Mexican trucks and their safety delayed the program.
It would help U.S. apparel companies producing garments in Mexico. Many Los Angeles blue jeans makers do part of their production south of the border and use Mexican-made denim for their clothing.
The concept program foresees that a safety audit would be conducted on each carrier’s safety-management program. Drivers’ records would be reviewed, and each vehicle would be inspected for safety and emissions. Evidence of vehicle insurance would have to be submitted to the Department of Transportation.
In addition, a Mexican carrier’s vehicle and driver would have to be inspected, for an agreed-upon amount of time, every time they enter the United States.—Deborah Belgum
