Employee truckers are not the only members of the trucking industry to support tough rules for Mexican trucks. Independent, small business truckers are equally concerned with President Bush's intention of opening the border. The 67,000 member Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) commends the Senate on approving tough, realistic rules to ensure that trucks from Mexico abide by our laws before they are allowed to travel all of our highways.

Jim Johnston, President of OOIDA said "We are grateful that a majority of Senators understand that the safety of our highways is more important to the American public than whatever trade benefits our country may gain from a premature opening of the border to Mexican trucks. Independent truckers spoke out by the tens of thousands with their letters and phone calls to Congress on this issue, and they were heard."

"The border opening proposal raises concrete, measurable safety concerns," Johnston continued.

OOIDA points out that highway safety rules in Mexico are fewer and weaker than those in the United States. Under NAFTA, Mexican trucks that come into the United States must comply with all U.S. safety regulations.

"We have serious doubts as to their ability to comply with our tougher rules," Johnston said. "Studies conducted by the Department of Transportation's Inspector General back up this statement."

The OOIDA president said the issue is not just about the deficiencies in Mexican trucks. "Federal and state truck enforcement officials are completely unprepared to oversee Mexican truck and driver compliance with U.S. safety rules," he said. "This will be a problem for every state, not just those on the border."

OOIDA firmly believes the border must stay closed until the federal government and all 50 states are prepared to ensure Mexican truck compliance with our safety rules.

"Whether or not Mexican trucks and drivers can meet our safety standards is the Mexican trucker's responsibility. Whether only those trucks that comply with our regulations are allowed into the United States is our responsibility, and it is one we are not prepared to take on," Johnston stated. "To allow Mexican trucks into our country now would create a safety hazard on our highways and would be unfair to American truckers who spend many hours and thousands of dollars a year complying with our tougher rules."

OOIDA believes that no matter what the resolution of the NAFTA trucking issue, when the border is open to Mexican trucks, the benefits will all flow toward Mexico. Mexican truckers will gain access to new markets and customers on the safest and most open highway system in the world. In return, the U.S. truckers are invited to travel more a more dangerous highway system in Mexico while the U.S. government is given the burden of performing the truck safety enforcement function for both countries.