Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
1 NW OOIDA Drive, Grain Valley, MO  64029
Web site: www.ooida.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Norita Taylor, norita_taylor@ooida.com  
Headquarters: (800) 444-5791

OOIDA takes legal action against DOT

Independent truckers want Mexican pilot program delayed

(Grain Valley, MO, Sept. 7, 2007) ) – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) filed a petition today asking for a review of the Department of Transportation's cross-border trucking program and a stay on the program pending that review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

The Association contends the DOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in its zeal to open all U.S. highways to Mexico-domiciled trucks, did not follow congressional directives and legal requirements.

“We believe we have a strong case against what is being called a pilot program, but is actually a stealthily implemented, pre-ordained plan to fully open our highways to Mexican trucks. This is all done in the name of global economics and cheap labor,” said Todd Spencer, Executive Vice President of OOIDA.

Yesterday, Spencer, stood alongside several members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging members of the Senate to pick up the work started by the House back in July.  The House approved an amendment to its transportation funding bill from Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-OR, to prohibit the use of federal funds to implement the Administration's pilot program to allow Mexican-domiciled trucks into the U.S. 

The Senate has not taken any action yet on the matter, but the Senate Transportation Appropriations bill is expected to be on the Senate floor next week.    

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, MO, area. The Association currently has more than 155,000 members from all 50 states and Canada.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The complete filing documents may be found here

Norita Taylor
Media Affairs
OOIDA
816-229-5791
norita_taylor@ooida.com
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association