Until an agreement or other understandings related to on-site safety reviews is reached with Mexico, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) cannot grant long-haul operating authority to any Mexican motor carrier, according to the United States Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
Additionally, given new background requirements for US drivers applying for hazardous materials endorsements, an agreement will need to be in place with Mexico before vehicles owned or leased by a FMCSA-authorized Mexican motor carrier can be permitted to haul hazardous materials beyond the commercial zones.
The OIG made the comments in a Jan 3, 2005, audit, according to department information.
At the same time, OIG found that FMCSA has sufficient staff, facilities, equipment, and procedures in place to substantially meet the Section 350 provisions in the FY 2002 Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
While negotiations are being carried out with Mexico on these two issues, which are preconditions to opening the border, FMCSA should close remaining gaps in reaching full compliance with Section 350 provisions requirements related to bus coverage, enforcement authority, weigh-in-motion systems, and the comprehensiveness of the system for monitoring Mexican driver records in the United States, the OIG said.