ATA: Keep NAFTA’s Mexican Truck Proviso to Curb Border Congestion
Photo: México Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes
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Photo: México Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes
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In no uncertain terms, the American Trucking Associations has made it clear it continues to support the provision within the North American Free Trade Agreement that allows approved Mexico-based motor carriers to operate in the U.S.
ATA Chief Economist and Senior Vice President Robert Costello stated in a Sept. 29 letter to United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that the trucking lobby supports the Mexican truck program because it has helped reduce congestion at U.S.-Mexico ports of entry.
“Congestion increases without NAFTA’s trucking provisions because trailers often return empty after delivering freight across the border,” he wrote. “Sometimes ‘Bobtails’ (tractors without trailers) deliver a trailer only one-way across the border and return solo; and, bobtails and empties are also required to be inspected at the port of entry just like loaded trailers.
“The additional unnecessary equipment increases congestion, delays, ‘overhandling’ of shipments, costs, and the potential for lost and damaged freight,” he added. “As the industry looks well into the future, this provision will be more important as trade increases. It would be shortsighted to end the program now.”
Costello indicated that ATA was stressing its support for the program now because “there are groups fearmongering about Mexican trucks driving beyond the commercial border zone.” He said this is “not an open door policy” as Mexican carriers undergo a case-by-case review before the U.S Department of Transportation grants them authority to operate here.
He also advised out that “the largest Mexican-domiciled carrier in the program, representing over half of all the Mexican drivers permitted to drive beyond the commercial trade zone, is actually owned by an American trucking company.”
Costello added that Mexican carriers operating beyond the commercial border zones have an excellent safety record. “They are operating equipment similar to U.S. motor carriers and must adhere to all …Read the rest of this story
