House Limits Mexican Trucks On Nation’s Roads
May 17, 2007, WASHINGTON – In an effort to ensure the safety of U.S. roads and preserve jobs for U.S. truckers, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon voted to help keep unregulated Mexican trucks off the nation’s roads.
“We should not open our borders to these trucks if they can’t meet the same standards that U.S. trucks have to meet,” said Gordon. “Our drivers have to be drug tested and undergo background checks to haul hazardous materials, but it would be nearly impossible to enforce those and other safety regulations on other drivers if we open our borders.”
On Tuesday (May 15), the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Safe American Roads Act. The legislation comes as a response to a pilot program announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation in February that would have allowed Mexican trucking companies to conduct long-haul, cross-border operations. Currently, Mexico-based trucks are allowed only into the roughly 20-mile commercial zone along the border, where their loads are transferred to U.S. trucks.
Congressional hearings in response to the Transportation Department’s plan raised concerns about the safety of the pilot program.
“U.S. truck drivers have to meet hours of service requirements to ensure they are well-rested and alert for driving,” said Gordon. “The Transportation Department’s program could have jeopardized highway safety and put many U.S. truckers at a serious disadvantage.”
The House bill would limit the number of Mexico-based trucks allowed to operate outside the commercial zone and ensure those trucks meet U.S. safety standards. In addition, the bill would prevent Mexican trucks from operating in the U.S. unless Mexico allows American trucks the same level of access south of the border.
“Our truck drivers currently are not allowed beyond commercial zones in Mexico, so there’s no reason to allow other truckers to have a leg up on our drivers,” said Gordon.
