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Feds: Trucking pilot fulfills NAFTA, sanctions lifted on Mexican carriers leasing CMVs to U.S. companies
WASHINGTON — Although the wheels continuously threatened to fall off the federal government's three-year cross-border Mexico pilot trucking program, the plan was deemed to finally fulfill NAFTA requirements. In light of that, sanctions against Mexico-domiciled motor carriers leasing CMVs to U.S. carriers to transport freight into the U.S. have been lifted, according to a notice in today's Federal Register.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted the pilot program from October 14, 2011, through October 10, 2014, to determine the ability of Mexican motor carriers to operate safely in the U.S.
The Federal Register notice says because Mexico-based carriers can now apply for and receive long-haul operating authority, the land transportation provisions of NAFTA have been met and the previous leasing restrictions no longer apply.
Throughout its run, the program was criticized by DOT's Office of Inspector General and challenged in court by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the Teamsters and so-called safety groups, but continued to roll on.
OOIDA criticized the safety of Mexican carriers and didn't want American jobs given to Mexican truck drivers who might work for lower pay. OOIDA contended that the pilot didn't generate enough data to reach an informed conclusion about whether the border should be opened.
The OIG criticized the program on a number of points, including the fact that some carriers made few trips outside of the designated commercial zone, thus defeating the purpose of the program, that FMCSA counted inspections of non pilot program drivers operating pilot trucks in the commercial zone as well as that 90 percent of border crossings and 80 percent of the inspections were attributed to only two carriers. However, the OIG did commend FMCSA for its diligence in meeting program procedural requirements.