Mexican Trucks Get a Break Under U.S. Plan

Mexican big rigs won’t have to undergo a U.S. safety check for up to 18 months after they have full access to U.S. roads under proposed new federal rules. Critics pounced on that aspect of the plan, saying the trucks should be thoroughly inspected before being allowed to operate in the United States to ensure that U.S. motorists aren’t sharing the road with unsafe vehicles. Under the proposal, Mexican trucking companies will be required to provide detailed information about their safety practices and show they are in compliance with U.S. trucking regulations, said Dave Longo, spokesman for the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration, which devised the plan. Then, within 18 months, U.S. officials will check the paperwork for accuracy. Mexican trucks also will be subject to spot inspections by U.S. authorities as they cross the border, as well as roadside inspections. Bret Caldwell, spokesman for the Teamsters union, which represents U.S. truckers, said the plan does not safeguard U.S. motorists. The North American Free Trade Agreement called for Mexican trucks to have unrestricted access to U.S. highways by 1995 in border states, including California, and full access to all U.S. highways by January 2000. The Clinton administration, citing safety concerns, but also under pressure from unions representing U.S. truckers, refused to implement the provisions. Mexican trucks now are limited to a zone north of the border, where they transfer their loads to U.S. trucks.