In The News

Cross-border program awaits Congress

Progress hasn’t been made in resuming the Mexico-United States trucking program, but the Senate will consider a long-term transportation funding bill that provides funds for it if congressional concerns are met.

Meanwhile, a recent poll shows most Americans against restarting the program.

President Obama and Mexico President Calderón discussed the issue at the recently completed North American Leaders Summit in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Congress just passed a short-term funding bill and is expected to resume work on the long-term transportation omnibus bill next month. The Senate Appropriations Committee-approved FY2010 omnibus transportation act includes program funding, contingent on resolving congressional questions.

“The Committee notes that the Congress acted earlier this year to suspend the Mexican trucking pilot program because of serious and legitimate safety concerns, and expects that the administration will not commence another Mexican trucking pilot program until those concerns have been addressed and resolved,” the Senate committee report says.

The report “urges the administration to work expeditiously with the Mexican government” to re-establish a safe program.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey indicates 19 percent of Americans say the U.S. Congress should let trucks from Mexico cross the border and carry loads on U.S. highways.

Sixty-six percent of respondents oppose lifting the ban on Mexican trucks operating in the United States, while 15 percent are uncertain.

Twenty-eight percent of Democrats think the border should be opened, but only 11 percent of Republicans and 16 percent of those not affiliated with either party are in favor of it.

The American Trucking Associations supports program resumption, while the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association opposes it.

www.eTrucker.com