FMCSA Approves 10th Mexican Carrier for Cross-Border Program

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it authorized Mexican carrier Grupo Behr de Baja California as the 10th participant in a longhaul cross-border pilot program.

The Mexican cross-border pilot project was originally created during the George W. Bush administration under provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement and was suspended by the Obama administration in early 2009 and restarted in 2011.

Grupo Behr previously passed the FMCSA’s pre-authorization safety audit, but the application was stalled due to safety concerns raised during public comment in September, according to FMCSA.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have each expressed concern about the company, but after investigation FMCSA said in a Federal Register notice published this week that it deems the company’s safety record sufficient.

FMCSA officials previously said they needed close to 46 carriers enrolled in the program that would need to receive 4,100 roadside inspections to properly evaluate if Mexican operators could be as safe as U.S. truckers.