The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced its intent to proceed with a project to demonstrate the ability of Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate in the United States, according to information published August 17 in the Federal Register.
Once the Department of Transportation's Inspector General completes his report to Congress as required, and the agency completes any follow-up actions needed to address any issues that may be raised in the report, FMCSA will proceed with the demonstration project.
FMCSA said earlier that the demonstration project will allow up to 100 Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate throughout the United States for one year. Up to 100 US-domiciled motor carriers will be granted reciprocal rights to operate in Mexico for the same period. Participating Mexican carriers and drivers must comply with all motor carrier safety laws and regulations and all other applicable US laws and regulations, including those concerned with customs, immigration, vehicle emissions, employment, vehicle registration and taxation, and fuel taxation.
An earlier FMCSA announcement of the project prompted outcries from various activists and members of Congress who protested the plans to initiate the project as part of FMCSA's implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) cross-border trucking provisions. As a result, FMCSA published another notice calling for public comments.
FMCSA has reviewed the required safety measures as noted in the previous notice, and considered all the comments received as of July 31, 2007.
The agency received comments from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety; AFL-CIO; Altshuler Berzon LLP; American Trucking Associations; Arkansas Trucking Association; Demarche Alliance Inc; the Free Trade Alliance; the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association; Oregon Department of Transportation; Public Citizen; Truck Safety Coalition; and Parents Against Tired Truckers. To see the notice in the Federal Register, click here.
More information about this issue is on the Bulk Transporter Web site. Click here to read about the controversy.