Mexican Trucking - What’s the Status?
Status - Largely Unknown?
Have you wondered what’s happened with the NAFTA initiated Mexican Trucking Demonstration Program lately? Me Too!
Unfortunately, there isn’t much new to report on this subject because the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has not been updating its web site and is apparently reluctant to respond to inquiries on the subject. However, they do appear committed to implementing the program as a part of NAFTA.
Here’s a basic overview of where things are and have been:
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At the time of this writing, the FMCSA Web Site, indicates that there are 5 Mexican Carriers authorized to roll into the heart of the US, and 3 US carriers to roll into Mexico.
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Interestingly, on August 6th, I received an update from the FMCSA indicating that 36 Mexican carriers had passed the PASA (this is the equivalent of a DOT Audit), 13 failed and 82 withdrew. Those 36 carriers have approximately 170 vehicles total.
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One question I have asked of the FMCSA, without response, is how the carriers go from passing PASA to being authorized to actually start rolling. I, and others, are left to wonder.
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In September the US Senate followed the lead of the US House and overwhelmingly passed an amendment to the Transportation Appropriations Bill that would de-fund the program.
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The FMCSA Administrator John H. Hill offered the following comment in reaction to this, “Tonight’s decision by the Senate is a sad victory for the politics of fear and protectionism and a disappointing defeat for U.S. consumers and U.S. truck drivers. This decision robs consumers of significant new savings, deprives drivers of new opportunities to compete in Mexico and squanders millions in taxpayer dollars Congress has spent to put in place a sophisticated safety network for border crossings.”
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In reaction to safety concerns, the FMCSA and Mexican government announced they would work jointly to track the trucks in this program via satellite.
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The House and Senate now have until mid November to get together in a Joint Conference Committee to pass the Transportation and HUD Appropriations Bill (S. 1789 / H.R. 3074). As of this writing the committee is not yet scheduled to meet because the House has not named its conferees.
So, what does this mean?
It means that the NAFTA initiated Mexican Truck Demonstration (or Pilot) Program continues to move forward. Where we stand right now is very unclear though because the FMCSA declines to comment on the simplest of inquiries.
Why do you think this is?
For additional information on the Mexican Trucking Program, visit our sister site.
October 17th, 2007 at 5:22 am
To answer your question as to how the carriers go from passing the PASA to final authority to operate is simple.
The PASA is a requirement unique to Mexican participation. US and Canadian carriers applying for authority are automatically granted it with a 18 month grace period before their first compliance audit. Mexican carriers must pass the initial audit’s before being granted authority which includes passing a Level I CVSA inspection, which is not required of the rest of us.
The the authority application goes through the normal channels. The application is posted on the FMCSA website to give the public the opportunity to comment on the carriers fitness and note their acceptance or objections to the authority being issued. This accounts for the delay between the PASA and final issuance of provisional authority.
The Mexican truck issue is really not an issue. The opposition to the program has not put forward one valid fact to justify their opposition. Only gross exaggerations of facts not in evidence and when one comes forward with the facts to dispute the myths, the opposition goes into the attack mode.
Sad commentary on our society today!