U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm

NEWS

FMCSA 08-07
Monday, September 24, 2007
Contact: Melissa Mazzella DeLaney
Tel.: (202) 366-9999

Third Mexican Trucking Company Cleared to Participate in Cross-Border Trucking Demonstration Project

Tijuana-based Transportes Padilla permitted to conduct long-haul operations

WASHINGTON - Transportes Padilla, a Tijuana-based trucking company, is the third Mexican trucking company to receive authority to make long-haul deliveries in the United States as part of the cross-border trucking demonstration project. The company intends to operate three vehicles.

"Mexican trucking companies, vehicles and drivers are meeting or exceeding the tough standards in place for this program as well as those in place for U.S. truckers, to maintain safety on American roads," said John H. Hill, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. "Under the demonstration project, companies and consumers from both countries are benefiting from new markets and more efficient trade across our shared border."

Every day, thousands of Mexican commercial trucks make short-haul deliveries into border commercial zones, which extend approximately 20-25 miles into the United States. Last year, these trucks made more than 4 million crossings into U.S. cities like San Diego and El Paso.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced the start of a cross-border trucking demonstration project that would expand current border operations to allow up to 100 U.S. trucking companies to operate in Mexico and up to 100 Mexican trucking companies to operate beyond commercial zones in the United States.

Every company, vehicle and driver participating in the program must pass a rigorous safety audit and inspection before being allowed to participate in the demonstration project. Checks on Mexican companies, vehicles and drivers are identical to, and in some instances more stringent than, those of their U.S. counterparts.

For a list of U.S. and Mexico trucking companies that have received authority to participate in the cross-border trucking demonstration project, please visit http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/cross-border/cross-border-carriers.htm.

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