Mexican Trucking Companies Pilot Program Review

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October 16, 2014

    The Department of Transportation concluded a three year pilot program in mid-October that allowed thirteen Mexican trucking companies to deliver goods to the US.  According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the program was implemented to fulfill the U.S. commitment to the North American Free Trade Agreement regarding “cross-border long-haul trucking provisions.”

    The Department of Transportation (DOT) will now evaluate the success of the program.  In order to complete the review, the DOT will look at 5,522 roadside inspections from 2011-2014.  While the DOT stated that 4,100 inspections would be needed for a valid sample, there are concerns that this data is not sufficient to conduct a reliable review. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a labor union in the United States, has attacked the scope of the data.  A press release from Teamsters claims that 91 percent of the data used for the study is from two companies crossing the border and that these same companies compose 82 percent of the inspections.  

    The DOT will continue to permit the Mexican trucks to cross the border until the review is completed.  The trucks will continue to be inspected during the grace period and will follow U.S. laws.  A report will be released within two months from the end date of the pilot program, which will evaluate the adequacy of the sample for the study.

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