An applicant to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s cross-border trucking pilot program has brought questions from the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association. The Teamsters and the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety’s Truck Safety Coalition have expressed concern over both another applicant and a current member of the program.
OOIDA has said that applicant Servicio De Transporte Internacional y Local did not disclose in its application for U.S. authority that an affiliated carrier did not comply with the alcohol and drug testing rules.
The association commented May 13 on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s publication of STIL’s Pre-Authorization Safety Audit, which applicant carriers must clear to participant in the pilot program.
RAM Trucking — another applicant — did not disclose affiliation with two other carriers, said the Teamsters and the Truck Safety Coalition. These affiliate carriers did not have good Compliance, Safety, Accountability scores in driver fitness and vehicle maintenance categories.
Also, Transportes Monteblanco a current participant, despite having received a less than satisfactory rating in the agency’s Compliance Review, the organizations added.
OOIDA, in joining the groups in a May 15 public statement, said the FMCSA’s agenda is for large economic interests and smaller trucking businesses will pay the price.
