NEWS RELEASE
Congress of the United States
Washington, D.C.

Dingell, Oberstar: GAO Report Says Mexican Truck Safety Still Lags
Study calls for more inspectors, facilities at U.S.-Mexico border

WASHINGTON—A new report from the General Accounting Office (GAO) confirms that safety questions persist over the issue of Mexican trucks on American highways.

The study was requested by Reps. John D. Dingell (Mich.) and James L. Oberstar (Minn.), ranking Democrats on the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Transportation and Infrastructure, respectively.  Also requesting were Rep. Edolphus Towns (N.Y.), ranking Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, and Rep. Bob Borski, ranking Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

According to the report, the United States continues to lack the facilities and personnel at the Mexican border to perform proper safety inspections on trucks coming into the U.S.   The report further states that the Mexican government is working to improve its truck safety regime, but its efforts are too new to assess their effectiveness.

The report calls on the Department of Transportation to develop and implement a coordinated truck safety inspection system at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Unsafe Mexican trucks should never be permitted to cross our borders and place Americans in harm’s way,” Dingell said.  “The truth is it happens all too often and jeopardizes not only the traveling public but also risks damages to our roads and environment.”

“This is not an issue just for the states along the Mexican border.  Interstate 35 provides a direct route from Laredo, Texas to Duluth, Minnesota, in my Congressional District,” Oberstar said.  “If trucks from Mexico are going to be permitted to travel to Minnesota, Michigan and the other states of our nation, they must be held to the same safety standards as U.S. and Canadian trucks.  We have to put the people and facilities in place to inspect those trucks before they come into this country and jeopardize the lives of innocent Americans.”

“We cannot allow corners to be cut when it comes to the security of the American people or the potential threat to the integrity of our roads and highways,” Towns said.  “We must take the appropriate steps to provide the necessary safeguards against others who may not share our concern for safety.”  

"As I witnessed firsthand, our borders are not adequately equipped to ensure that trucks entering the US are safe.  It is imperative that we address these shortfalls to ensure the safety of the American traveling public,"  Borski said.

The FY2002 Transportation Appropriations Act enacted in December set new standards for Mexico-domiciled trucks coming into the United States.   The legislation requires that all vehicles be inspected and, until a carrier has been operating in the U.S. with permanent operating authority for three consecutive years, it requires inspections every 90 days, similar to what is now done by the State of California.  The Mexican carriers must have proof of insurance and drivers must hold valid Commercial Driver’s Licenses. 

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Click here for a copy of the report (.pdf format).
The report will be available on line at www.gao.gov

See also Highlights of the GAO Report