Bush opens U.S. border to Mexican trucks

President Bush gave the nod Nov. 27 for Mexican trucks to travel U.S. roads beyond commercial border zones where they have been restricted while inspection sites and new regulations were put in place.

The decision comes nearly a year after Bush had said he wanted to allow Mexican trucks on U.S. roads in compliance with a provision of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Meanwhile, Mexican trucks and buses won't be on U.S. highways until the Department of Transportation reviews 130 applications from Mexican carriers. It must then grant qualifying carriers provisional operating authority.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said, "Mexican carriers and drivers must meet the same standards as U.S. operators. I have made a lifelong commitment to equality under the law and will not, however, tolerate discriminatory enforcement. In this matter of trucking, as in all the modes of transportation, the pervasive issue is safety."

Some specifics

Mexican drivers will be subject to U.S. drug and alcohol requirements. They also must follow U.S. hours of service rules and they must maintain logs to prove it to safety inspectors.

To drive in the United States, Mexican commercial drivers must have a "Licencia Federal." In 1991, the United States and Mexico established reciprocity between the Mexican Licencia Federal and the U.S. commercial driver's license.

To receive operating authority, all Mexico-domiciled carriers must undergo a safety audit by the FMCSA. During these audits, inspectors assess a carrier's safety and assist applicants with information concerning how to comply with U.S. safety regulations.

Meanwhile, the United States and Mexico will share safety data generated on both sides of the border in such audits by U.S. officials. Of the 130 Mexico-domiciled motor carriers that have applied to begin cross-border long-haul cargo service into the United States, approximately half are ready for safety audits.

To help ensure safety, Mexican carriers granted authority to operate in the United States also will receive a formal compliance review within the first 18 months of operation. Carriers that maintain satisfactory compliance ratings will be awarded permanent operating authority at the end of the 18-month period of operating under provisional authority.

All Mexican trucks and buses operating in the United States will be required to display a valid Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection decal. These decals, valid for 90 days, indicate a vehicle has passed a safety inspection by a qualified inspector.

Likewise, Mexican truck and bus companies will be required to carry U.S. insurance while operating in the United States.

In addition to the 130 Mexico-domiciled motor carriers that have applied to operate beyond the border commercial zones in the United States, 854 Mexico-domiciled motor carriers have applied to the FMCSA for provisional certificates of registration to operate in the border commercial zones. Of these 854 applicants, the FMCSA has issued provisional certificates to 459.