Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

In a move likely to seriously impact trucking safety on our interstates and highways, the Bush administration recently announced a test program, which will allow trucks from 100 selected Mexican companies to haul freight all over the United States. Safety groups, truck drivers, and trucking companies in the U.S. are expressing the most concern over this program - over safety, jobs, and homeland security issues. Of course, U.S. drivers are required to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). Those regulations govern every aspect of interstate trucking, including hours of service, insurance, drug and alcohol testing, and, of course, safety and security. Mexican standards and regulations pale in comparison to the requirements in the U.S. Many of those opposed to the program are also concerned about language. According to them, although drivers in this pilot program may have above-average English skills, the public has a right to be concerned about future drivers, if the Bush administration decides to expand further in this direction. Also, there is the question of jobs. American truck drivers could be impacted significantly by an onslaught of lower-cost competition.

As it stands now, Mexican trucks are checked from top to bottom, for security reasons and safety compliance, every time they cross into the U.S. Loosening these standards will not do anything to promote safer highways for the American public. Let's hope this pilot program comes and goes, without any erosion of our current safety standards.

Sources: Los Angeles Daily News, The Trucker News Service, KFOX (El Paso, TX)