In a letter sent to US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa reiterated his concerns over the DOT’s plan to develop legislation to restart the controversial cross-border trucking program, allowing unsafe Mexican trucks to travel freely in the US.
Hoffa and LaHood met recently to discuss the genuine risks to public safety and national security if the unsafe trucks are allowed to operate outside the commercial zone before they meet the same standards as US trucks and drivers.
“After almost 15 years, the Mexican government has yet to take responsibility to raise its level of safety enforcement for Mexican trucks and drivers,” Hoffa wrote in the letter. “Until that happens, it is unlikely that the US alone can ensure that all Mexican trucks and drivers entering the US meet our standards for safety.
“It is equally disturbing that we don’t know exactly what Mexican highway safety laws require of drivers and motor carriers.”
Hoffa said important safety concerns have not been addressed, such as differences in commercial drivers license requirements and restrictions between the two countries, hours-of-service enforcement, truck safety inspection, and drug and alcohol testing.
He also reminded LaHood that Congress has made very clear that the pilot program did not meet U.S. safety standards, overwhelmingly voting in both the House and Senate to end the program. For any future pilot program to be considered, it must hold both the drivers and trucks participating in the program to stringent US standards, he said.
