U.S., Mexico Agree to Cross-Border Trucking Program

Agreements resolving the dispute over long-haul, cross-border trucking services between the United States and Mexico have been signed, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Mexico will lift retaliatory tariffs, imposed two years ago, on more than $2 billion in U.S. manufactured goods and agricultural products. Mexican tariffs ranging from five to 25 percent on an U.S. agricultural and industrial products such as apples, certain pork products, and personal care products would be immediately cut in half and will disappear entirely within a few months.

Trucks will be required to comply with all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and must have electronic monitoring systems to track hours-of-service compliance.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will review the complete driving record of each driver and require all drug testing samples to be analyzed in Department of Health and Human Services-certified laboratories. Drivers also must undergo an assessment of their ability to understand English and U.S. traffic signs.

It will likely be at least two months before any Mexican truckers pass safety, English and national security checks and win approval to cruise middle America’s highways, the Associated Press reported.

Topics USA Agribusiness Trucking Mexico