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

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

Real time tracking is more shine than substance 

Satellite-based system does not guarantee compliance

(Grain Valley, MO, Sept. 28, 2007) – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) expressed skepticism in response to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s announcement to establish a satellite tracking system for the Mexican cross-border pilot program.

“It may sound impressive to those unfamiliar with the industry or the limits of the technology, but closer scrutiny verifies it’s a cosmetic cover up for a poorly conceived program,” stated Executive Vice President of OOIDA Todd Spencer. “You can polish up a rock, but then you’ll just have a shiny rock.”  

In a news release, the FMCSA’s claims that the system will monitor whether drivers are complying with driving time limits. However, Spencer commented that the agency cannot even currently do this with U.S. drivers, not without checking paperwork or other manual records. 

 “I don’t see how this ensures anything from a safety or security standpoint. We’d like FMCSA to explain in more detail exactly how this system will actually keep track of the hours of service of a trucker,” added Spencer.

 Notably, the agency’s own release states “no driver information will be collected or tracked.”

“And as we might have expected, FMCSA has U.S. taxpayers picking up the tab for this from money that should be spent on highways and bridges,” he added.

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 156,000 members from all 50 states and Canada.