By Jim Berard (202) 225-6260
Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that it will open the to Mexico-domiciled trucks and allow 100 Mexican trucking companies (with an unlimited number of trucks) unrestricted access to roads. I had an opportunity to discuss this proposal with Secretary Peters prior to its unveiling.
For years, I have urged the Administration not to open the border to Mexico-domiciled trucks until DOT can certify that protocols and procedures are in place to ensure that opening the border will not jeopardize the American traveling public and that these carriers will comply with all U.S. motor carrier safety laws. These assurances must be in place, not only on paper but in practice, and will require Congress and other independent entities, including the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG), to remain vigilant as this pilot program moves forward.
DOT has made considerable progress since 2001 in complying with the various requirements established under Section 350 of the FY 2002 Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Yet several unanswered questions remain about whether the necessary systems are in place today to hold Mexican carriers to the same strict federal standards that govern commercial truck operations.
Mexican law does not require many fundamental elements of highway safety that are required for drivers by
law and regulation. Unlike
truck drivers, Mexican truck drivers are not subject to hours-of-service restrictions. If Mexican drivers are not required to keep log books, it is impossible to know how many hours or days a driver has been behind the wheel of a truck in , without rest, prior to crossing the border and entering our highways. Anecdotal evidence from news reports suggests that working hours for truck drivers in go far beyond anyone’s estimate of a safe, reasonable limit.
Drug and alcohol testing is another essential element. According to the latest OIG report on Mexico-domiciled motor carriers, does not have a certified drug testing lab. To comply with regulations, drug test collection facilities in send specimens to labs in the for processing. Yet, without oversight and established controls at collection sites, compliance is very difficult to gauge.
Another problem is the
lacks a comprehensive system for monitoring Mexican driver records. Inaccurate or incomplete data on both commercial motor vehicles and drivers continues to be submitted by Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to DOT. Without accurate and timely information, there is no way to identify high-risk companies and drivers. These and numerous other problems surrounding vehicle and driver standards must be wholly addressed before Mexican trucks are permitted to travel freely in the
Motor vehicle and truck safety continues to be a serious, tragic problem in the . In 2005, 43,443 people died as a result of accidents on our nation’s highways. Each year, more than 5,000 people are killed in large truck crashes on our nation’s roads, and tens of thousands more are seriously injured.
The
is obligated to live up to its commitments under North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but not at the expense of the safety of our citizens. We cannot afford to pursue policies that represent a step backward in terms of safety.
I look forward to working with Secretary Peters and the Department to resolve the remaining safety concerns.
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