Compromise deal to give Mexican trucks access to United States

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 29, 2001, via truckinginfo.com) — U.S. Congressional leaders and President Bush have reached an agreement that would allow Mexican trucks full access to the United States starting in January.

In a move to tighten safety requirements for Mexican trucks, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation will conduct onsite safety inspections of half of all Mexican fleets wanting to operate in the United States, and will verify the licences of all Mexican truck drivers hauling high-risk cargo into the country and half of all other Mexican truck driver’s licences at the border. Weigh-in-motion scales will be placed at five U.S. border entry points immediately and at five more within a year, and Mexican trucks will be allowed to enter the U.S. only at border crossings staffed with inspectors.

This plan softens inspection requirements passed earlier this year by the Senate but toughens a Bush administration proposal that would have allowed Mexican carriers to operate in the U.S. for up to 18 months while their safety claims were verified, provided they were in compliance with this country’s safety standards.

The plan is included in the current fiscal year’s transportation funding package.

President Bush pledged to veto any attempt to block access of Mexican trucks to U.S. markets beyond the narrow commercial trading zone at the border, as called for in the long-delayed provision of the North American Free Trade Agreement.