Friday, 31 August 2007 02:52

Bush Administration to allow Mexican Big Rig Trucks to drive on U.S. Highways

A plan by the Bush administration to allow Mexican big rig trucks to drive on U.S. highways has the teamsters Union and others hitting the brakes, hard.
The Teamsters union and other groups are seeking an injunction from the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to stop the pilot plan that would allow up to 100 Mexican trucking companies to operate in the U.S. The suit contends the plan violates a Congressional mandate that the program have careful statistical tracking of safety issues along with a requirement that U.S. trucking companies get the same access to Mexico.The California Highway Patrol says Mexican trucks that already operate in California's border areas are actually surpassing the safety records of their U.S. counterparts. "Our experience is that the licenses are valid, they've met all the standards, and we haven't seen anything to indicate that they're less than U.S. standards," said Steve Vaughan, who heads the CHP's Enforcement Services Division.  The Bush administration pilot plan does require Mexican drivers to show they can read road signs and communicate in English. The plan would allow Mexican trucks to roll on U.S. highways as soon as this weekend.