Teamsters Urge House to Pass Bill Banning Unsafe Mexican Trucks

Vote Scheduled for Today on Bill to Stop Cross-Border Trucking Pilot Program

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said he hopes Congress will vote today to close the border to dangerous trucks from Mexico.

Last year Congress voted overwhelmingly to ban the cross-border trucking pilot program, but the Bush administration ignored the law. Even though there is strong bipartisan support in Congress for closing the border, the Transportation Department announced it is extending the program for another two years.

"There are many, many unanswered questions about the safety of Mexican trucks and their drivers," Hoffa said. "It's flat-out reckless to let them drive on our highways and endanger American families."

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., ends the pilot program. It also prohibits the transportation secretary from granting authority to any Mexican trucks beyond the commercial zone, unless specifically authorized by Congress. The bill passed committee in July, unanimously by a voice vote.

The Teamsters oppose the pilot program because Mexican trucks and drivers do not have to meet the same safety standards as their American counterparts. There are no certified drug testing labs in Mexico. The database for Mexican driver traffic violations is inadequate. Mexico doesn't enforce hours-of-service regulations.

The Transportation Department has also shown it is incapable of reviewing the safety records of Mexican carriers that want to participate in the pilot program. The agency approved Trinity Enterprises as a participant, though its own database indicated the company had more than 1,200 safety violations.