Graves Tells DOT Mexican Trucks OK

American Trucking Associations president Bill Graves told U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that the ATA has no objections to opening the southern borders to allow Mexican and U.S. trucks direct access to their customers’ freight facilities.

LaHood met with Graves April 1 to solicit comments on reviving the Mexican cross-border truck program in preparation for President Obama’s planned mid-April trip to Mexico where he will meet with Mexican President Calderon.

A 2007 version of the cross-border program was eliminated by the recent omnibus spending bill. Mexico has since retaliated by placing tariffs on an estimated $2.4 billion in U.S. imports.

Graves said while ATA had no objections to the 2007 program, requirements for stricter safety standards and upgrades to tracking and tracing technology may help satisfy concerns of some of the program’s opponents, which include the Teamsters union and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.