Mexican trucks targeted in supplemental bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved an amendment to an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that would prevent Mexican trucking companies from getting unfettered access to U.S. highways until American truckers get the same access to Mexico. The Senate bill affected has not been voted on yet.

According to Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), one of the sponsors of the amendment, a one-year pilot program organized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will allow 100 Mexican trucking companies access to U.S. highways while American companies would not be granted full access to Mexican highways until approximately six months later.

“It is simply unfair to American truckers to restrict their access to Mexico while Mexican drivers are given unrestricted access to U.S. highways on a faster timetable,” Sen. Feinstein said. “This amendment will prevent that from happening.”

The amendment was co-sponsored by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Patty Murray (D-WA).