Kaptur Co-Sponsors Legislation To Limit Mexican Trucks In U.S.

Press Release

KAPTUR CO-SPONSORS LEGISLATION TO LIMIT MEXICAN TRUCKS IN U.S.

Representative Marcy Kaptur introduced bipartisan legislation that would ban Mexican motor carriers from most of the United States unless they meet specific safety and security requirements. Congresswoman Kaptur, a longtime opponent of NAFTA-style trade agreements, introduced the bipartisan legislation along with Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA-52), ranking member of the Armed Services Committee.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Trucking Safety Act would prohibit trucks based in Mexico from entering the U.S. from entering the United States beyond commercial zones until the U.S. Department of Transportation promulgates rules for compliance by Mexican drivers and carriers with federal safety regulations.

"This legislation addresses an important safety issue," said Congresswoman Kaptur. "The American public deserves to know that trucks from Mexico do not pose an undue safety risk, yet the government of Mexico, unlike the United States, has virtually no enforceable safety requirements for tractor-trailers and a very limited inspection regime."

Congresswoman Kaptur also said law enforcement personnel in the United States should have the ability to access driver, criminal and security data bases to verify drivers' IDs, driving records, criminal records and risk to security. By contrast, the Bush Administration, in seeking to open U.S. roadways to Mexican trucks, proposes to accept "proof" by Mexican trucking companies that their drug and alcohol testing procedure comply with U.S. requirements.

"There are considerable safety and security risks involved with providing Mexican truckers complete and unrestricted access to American roadways," said Congressman Hunter. "It is important that these issues are thoroughly addressed before Mexican motor carriers are permitted to freely operate beyond established commercial zones along the Southern land border.

Congresswoman Kaptur said the NAFTA Trucking Safety Act would ensure that the same rules and regulations that currently apply to U.S. drivers would also apply to Mexican drivers.

Under NAFTA (P.L. 103-182), American roadways and communities were scheduled to be opened to cross-border trucking competition on January 1, 2000. Largely due to Congressional opposition, however, the Clinton Administration did not grant Mexican motor carriers unrestricted access to U.S. roadways and subsequently established commercial zones just along the international border for cross-border trucking activities. While legislation was later enacted in 2001 (P.L. 107-87) requiring several safety conditions be satisfied before opening the border to Mexican trucks, the Department of Transportation has since announced that compliance standards have been met and implementation is presently underway.

The Kaptur-Hunter legislation has has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Committee on Homeland Security.

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