Bush team extends Mexican truck test

A demonstration project allowing Mexican truck companies and their drivers to run on U.S roadways has been extended for two years by officials at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on the first day opponents in Congress were out of Washington for their August break.

"I am pleased with the success of our demonstration project, but the participation has been limited by the uncertainty of the project's longevity. A number of potential companies have been unwilling to invest the time and resources necessary to participate due to uncertainties concerning the project's longevity," FMCSA chief John Hill said in his announcement today which extended the pilot project for two more years.

"When the cat's away, the mice will play," said a statement from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. "The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration curiously chose the first day Congress is out of session for one month to announce a two-year extension of the unpopular cross-border trucking program."

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The organization said it was not surprised and maintains the continuance of the program is in defiance of congressional directives "as well as existing laws and regulations."

"The administration has shown time and again that when it comes to this program they are willing to run roughshod over Congress and the American public," said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president. "Announcing this on the first day of the recess is unfortunately par for the course with them. Sorry for the cliché, but it's 'Bush league' tactics."

Norita Taylor, a spokeswoman for the truckers' group, said Congress previously forbade funding for such programs but used the word "establish" in its directive. Federal administration officials noted the ban did not apply to the trucking program since it already had been "established."

The truckers organization also has a lawsuit pending in federal court over the implementation of the program.

"OOIDA agrees with Congress, which has voted more than once to end the program, in its contention that the pilot program as conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) does not comply with U.S. laws and regulations with regard to safety and security," the organization said.

"DOT has consistently bent over backwards to force this program on the public. They seem oblivious to the inherent safety and security risks of what they are trying to do,” Spencer said.

The trade association has more than 161,000 members in the U.S. and Canada and represents the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. It's leaders believe the decision to allow Mexican trucking companies and truck drivers on U.S. roads will not help.

Federal Department of Transportation officials, however, were enthused over the extension.

"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. The extension will ensure that the demonstration project can be reviewed and evaluated on the basis of a more comprehensive body of data," said Hill.

He said, "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. In fact, Mexican trucks and drivers have established compliance rates equal or better to those of U.S. trucks and drivers."

Federal officials said there currently are 27 Mexican trucking companies running 107 trucks into the U.S. They have made nearly 10,000 trips across the border. Only 10 U.S. companies are making similar trips into Mexico.

WND previously reported Transportation Secretary Mary Peters admitted under questioning from Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., that Mexican drivers involved in the program were being designated as "proficient in English" even though they could explain U.S. traffic signs only in Spanish.

Mary Peters

The designation was made despite a brochure on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's website instructing Mexican truck drivers, "Did you know … You MUST be able to read and speak English to drive trucks in the United States."

Dorgan asked, "Does the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration test for English proficiency at the border include questions about U.S. highway signs?"

"Yes," DOT Inspector General Calvin Scovel replied. "The FMCSA English proficiency test at the border did not originally include U.S. highway signs, but now it does."

"Do you show a driver an octagonal 'STOP' sign at the border and qualify him if he explains the sign means 'ALTO'?" an incredulous Dorgan pressed.

"Alto" is the Spanish word for "Stop."

"Yes," Scovel answered reluctantly. "If the stop sign is identified as 'alto,' the driver is considered English proficient."

Dorgan also has accused Peters of defying Congress by parsing words to continue to allow Mexican trucks into the U.S. under the demonstration project, despite the clear intent of Congress to take away funds to bring the program to a halt.

 

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