First Mexican carriers pass cross-border audit

Updated Sep 15, 2011

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has published information on Pre-Authorization Safety Audits for Mexican carriers applying to the cross-border pilot trucking program and the names of the first applicants to complete it.

The Sept. 12 Federal Register notice noted Grupo Behr De Baja of Tijuana, a participant in the previous cross-border program, had successfully finished its PASA. The agency’s Safety Measurement System listed the general freight carrier as having seven trucks.

The comment deadline is Sept. 22.

The FMCSA published a Sept. 14 Federal Register notice and request for comments for the second carrier to successfully complete PASA,Transportes Olympic. The two-truck carrier based in Monterrey, Mexico, was the first participating carrier to cross into the U.S.
under the earlier cross-border program in 2007. Those wishing to comment have until Sept. 26.

Three other Mexican carriers have applied for the program, and the FMCSA is processing their applications.

The FMCSA has indicated the cross-border program could begin within six weeks. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association’s request for a stay of the program, pending court review Sept. 8. It will schedule oral arguments following the completion of brief filings, with the last brief due by Dec. 5.

The Teamsters union and Public Citizen also petitioned a federal appeals court Sept. 2 to review the agency’s plans to proceed with a cross-border trucking pilot program with Mexico.

The public may comment on the FR notice by including its Docket No. FMCSA-2011-0097, by one of the following methods:

  • Federal eRulemaking Portal at  http://www.regulations.gov
  • Fax: 1-202-493-2251
  • Mail: Docket Management Facility, (M-30), U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building,Ground Floor, Room 12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

To read background documents or comments received, visit www.regulations.gov.