Mexico Trucker Online

The Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee unanimously approved a measure that calls for President Bush to comply with federal law regarding trucks from Mexico.

Sponsored by state Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk, the resolution urges the Bush administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation to obey recently enacted federal law.

“Allowing Mexican truckers and long-haul rigs on highways throughout the United States – absent the rigorous inspections and safety and training standards for U.S. trucks and truck drivers – is dangerous to the public,” Surra said in a written statement.

The pilot project was started in September 2007. It authorizes tractor-trailers from 11 Mexico-based trucking operations to cross the border and travel throughout the U.S.

Congress approved legislation late last year to stop funding for the program, citing concerns that Mexican trucks don’t meet U.S. safety standards. The Bush administration and U.S. DOT, however, are continuing to allow the Mexico-based trucks to cross the border.

Surra is looking to put more pressure on the president and DOT to end the program.

“Keeping these Mexican trucks on U.S. highways is a direct violation of federal law, a law that the president himself signed,” Surra said. “It also puts many safe U.S. trucking companies and truck drivers at a competitive disadvantage in their own country.”

More political posturing to be certain. And it will have no effect on anything. 8 months into the program, there have been no accidents, catastrophic incidents or accidents and no American carrier has been put at an “economic disadvantage”

We have proven time and again that these trucks are scrutinized closer than any American or Canadian carrier on the road.

I can forsee at the successful conclusion of the program, either an extension for another year or two, or complete opening of the southern border, conditional on all applicants passing the PASA. And honestly, there will be no reason to deny this from happening.

The arguments of the opposition becomes weaker and weaker as each day passes without an incident, and I also imagine the Courts are looking at the program in this manner.

So Mr. Surra, you’ve had your 15 minutes of fame, now go on back into your hole and continue selling the infrastructure of your state to the highest bidder.