dieselcop
08-01-2008, 01:37 PM
WASHINGTON -- The controversial Mexican truck pilot program may be coming to an end.
Mexican trucks would be barred from U.S. highways, and the Department of Transportation prohibited from enacting future cross-border programs for Mexican truckers under a measure introduced in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) introduced a bill this week that would prohibit DOT from granting "authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border after September 6, 2008" unless the action is "expressly authorized by Congress."
The measure would also require DOT to halt its current pilot program for Mexican trucks by that date.
The one-year pilot project was launched last September and allows pre-selected Mexican carriers to haul beyond the longstanding 20-mile commercial restriction zone at the U.S.-Mexican border.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee plans to vote on the measure today.
The bill drew support from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and the Teamsters, which have been trying to get the program canned since it began.
Earlier this year, the Senate voted 75 to 23 and the House voted 411 to 3 to keep the border closed to Mexican trucks. However, the DOT kept it going anyway, arguing that the previous bill's language refers to funds "to establish" a program, and doesn't apply to the program already underway.
DeFazio proposal also includes an oversight regime of the program. It seeks to establish an independent review panel that is to report to Congress on a variety of aspects of the program, including:
The effects on motor carrier safety, including an analysis of any wrecks involving motor carriers participating in the demonstration project; Recommendations of modifications to the process of granting authority to Mexico-based motor carriers to operate beyond the commercial zones; and modifications needed for monitoring future operations of participating carriers. :D
Mexican trucks would be barred from U.S. highways, and the Department of Transportation prohibited from enacting future cross-border programs for Mexican truckers under a measure introduced in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) introduced a bill this week that would prohibit DOT from granting "authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border after September 6, 2008" unless the action is "expressly authorized by Congress."
The measure would also require DOT to halt its current pilot program for Mexican trucks by that date.
The one-year pilot project was launched last September and allows pre-selected Mexican carriers to haul beyond the longstanding 20-mile commercial restriction zone at the U.S.-Mexican border.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee plans to vote on the measure today.
The bill drew support from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and the Teamsters, which have been trying to get the program canned since it began.
Earlier this year, the Senate voted 75 to 23 and the House voted 411 to 3 to keep the border closed to Mexican trucks. However, the DOT kept it going anyway, arguing that the previous bill's language refers to funds "to establish" a program, and doesn't apply to the program already underway.
DeFazio proposal also includes an oversight regime of the program. It seeks to establish an independent review panel that is to report to Congress on a variety of aspects of the program, including:
The effects on motor carrier safety, including an analysis of any wrecks involving motor carriers participating in the demonstration project; Recommendations of modifications to the process of granting authority to Mexico-based motor carriers to operate beyond the commercial zones; and modifications needed for monitoring future operations of participating carriers. :D