It is important to ensure the safety of motorists using our roads and highways, and all trucks hauling cargo in the United States must meet current U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and other safety regulations.

Currently, when a Mexican truck enters in the United States to deliver cargo, the truck is only permitted to travel so far beyond the border, at which point the cargo must be transferred to a U.S. truck for delivery to its final destination. However, the U.S. and Mexico developed a one-year temporary pilot program that would allow a limited number of Mexican and U.S. trucks to travel to their final destinations in both countries.  The DOT has informed me that all Mexican trucks operating in the United States would be required to meet all of the same safety requirements and regulations that are currently required for U.S. trucks. Detailed information on this pilot program can be accessed on the DOT website at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/cbtsip/index.htm . However, I am concerned about this pilot program, especially if resources are indeed available to ensure that these trucks do meet all the same safety requirements and regulations required for domestic trucks.
 
On May 15, 2007, I voted for legislation (H.R. 1773), which passed the House, that would, among other things, prohibit Mexican trucks from operating in the United States through the DOT pilot program unless certain requirements set by the Act were met, such as ensuring that U.S. trucks are allowed to begin comparable operations in Mexico via the pilot program before the program is implemented in the United States. However, before this bill can become law, it must be passed by the Senate and signed by the President.