Mexican carriers drive most in California, Texas

Fourteen carriers have current applications with the cross-border trucking pilot program with Mexico, while the six carriers already granted authority have accumulated the most miles in California and Texas.

Additionally, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has dismissed applications from three more carriers and seven other carriers have withdrawn applications as of Aug. 26.

Participating carriers have accumulated 43,299 total miles in California and Texas since the first participating carrier crossed the border Oct. 14. The agency indicated no miles were accumulated in Arizona and New Mexico, but 22,374 miles were driven in California.

Participants totaled an additional 31,106 miles in non-border states, led by Florida (8,563 miles), followed by Louisiana (8,100 miles). The remaining states in this category were, in order of miles accumulated: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.

The FMCSA noted no driver or vehicle out-of-service reports, reportable crashes or violations or issues with CDLs or insurance.

During an Aug. 16 audit, the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General stated that the program needs procedural and monitoring improvement and lacks sufficient data and participation to draw safety conclusions.

It would require at least 4,100 inspections of 46 carriers over a three-year period to yield a statistically valid analysis of participants’ safety and allow reliable statistical projections regarding safety, the oversight agency stated.

Three of the six carriers currently with authority received provisional authority during the previous cross-border trucking program. The current program allows carriers to receive credit for time operated under authority in the former program in calculating the 18-month provisional operating authority period.

Congress voted to end the previous program in March 2009 after 18 months of operation.

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