DOT extends cross-border truck plan, opponents vow to kill plan

Congressional Democrats are blasting the Bush administration's approval of a two-year extension to a U.S./Mexico cross-border truck program, vowing to kill the program once Congress reconvenes in September.The White House extended the program Monday, infuriating political opponents of the plan by approving the extension on the first day of Congress?summer recess.

Rep. James L. Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat that led the charge to kill the Department of Transportation pilot program when it was introduced last year, called the extension the White House's latest attempt to alout the will of Congress?on the matter.

Under the program, which started in September 2007, the DOT provided for the authorization of truck fleets from 100 pre-screened Mexican trucking firms to travel throughout the United States. The plan also requires that an equal number of U.S. truck firms be provided reciprocal access to Mexico. Under terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement, signatories Mexico and the United States must allow access to trucks from each nation. Since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994, however, Congressional legislation and litigation spearheaded by U.S. labor unions and public safety groups have limited Mexican trucks to a narrow 20 to 25-mile zone along the border.

To date, 27 Mexican trucking firms operating 107 trucks have been authorized by the DOT under the plan. Ten U.S. firms running 55 trucks into Mexico have also been participating in the program.

From its inception, the DOT pilot program has met fierce opposition from labor, trucking and public safety groups, with most citing U.S. job losses and inadequate U.S. control of safety regulations on Mexican trucks and drivers as main concerns.

Twice last year, both the House and Senate passed de-funding language regarding the truck program to transportation bills that were eventually signed by the White House. Despite these moves, the Bush administration has remained committed to keeping the plan operating. The plan was set to expire on Sept. 6.

As chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Oberstar said he would introduce legislation as soon as possible to kill the program once and for all.

When Congress reconvenes in September, I intend to have the full House of Representatives approve our bill as quickly as possible, and make certain that the voice of Congress is heard loud and clear at the Department of Transportation and that this program is finally shut down,?Oberstar said.

Two weeks ago, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., introduced a bill seeking to prohibit DOT from granting authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border after Sept. 6, 2008,?unless the action is expressly authorized by Congress.The measure, which was approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on which DeFazio also sits, would require DOT to halt its current pilot program for Mexican trucks by Sept. 6. The measure still requires a full House vote when lawmakers return from recess in September.

In approving the extension, the Bush administration claimed that the program had been successful and deserves to not only be extended, but expanded.

We intend this extension to reassure trucking companies that they will have sufficient time to realize a return on their investment, and we anticipate additional participation with this extra time, said John H. Hill, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The extension will ensure that the demonstration project can be reviewed and evaluated on the basis of a more comprehensive body of data. Shortly after the approval of the extension, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a vocal opponent of the program that has unsuccessfully sued to stop it, also joined in calling for the end of the program.

Now many lives do we have to risk on our highways before the Bush administration puts public safety ahead of the greed of multinational corporations looking to send more of our middle-class jobs to Mexico said Teamsters?President James P. Hoffa.

Hill said the pilot program has proven that the concerns of opponents are baseless.

To date, the project has shown that U.S. and Mexican carriers can engage in cross-border trucking operations in compliance with applicable laws and with no compromise to public safety or security, Hill said.

Source: American Shipper