ATA’s President Graves comments on cross-border trucking program

Following the US Department of Transportation’s release of the details of a pilot program to restart longhaul cross-border trucking program, Bill Graves, American Trucking Associations president and chief executive officer, issued this statement:

“The American Trucking Associations welcomes the progress that the United States and Mexico are making to resolve their ongoing dispute over cross-border trucking. This proposal requires Mexican carriers to follow all the same rules and regulations that their American counterparts are subject to and takes steps to monitor Mexican trucks to ensure that those rules are being followed.

“ATA expressed concerns to DOT about the US government’s earlier proposal to pay for and provide electronic onboard recorders to Mexican trucks participating in a proposed pilot program. DOT has changed this specific requirement to allow for GPS systems to also be used for tracking purposes to ensure compliance with US cabotage and hours of service regulations. We believe this is a sound change by the administration.

“This announcement is good news for the US businesses that have been hurt by Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs, including the trucking industry, and we look forward to the United States finally living up to its commitments under the North American Free Trade Agreement.”