Senators Offer Mexican Truck Compromise

Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) are calling for vehicle and driver inspections for Mexican trucks every 90 days, as part of a compromise on new rules governing the safety of Mexican trucks in the United States, the Associated Press reported.

Transport Topics has previously reported that, earlier this year, the U.S. House had voted to effectively block Mexican truck access, while the Senate approved tougher provisions for Mexican trucks than President Bush had proposed.

Bush, who had pushed to open the border by Jan. 1, has threatened to veto a $60 transportation bill if it includes tough restrictions on Mexican trucks.

That position was reiterated in an Oct. 29 press briefing when White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that the president believes that it's important for the trucks to be operating safely in the United States, for them to enter legally and for the government to hire additional inspectors on the borders.

A spokesman for Murray, who is chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations transportation spending panel, said this compromise eases requirements for insurance and safety inspections.

It would require special scales to determine whether moving trucks are overweight at only the 10 busiest commercial crossings, instead of all crossings.

In addition, the Department of Transportation would be allowed to create specific safety policies for the trucks without a lengthy public regulatory process, while vehicle insurance companies could be licensed in the United States, rather than based and licensed here as previously proposed.

The U.S. House and Senate could begin negotiations on the issue of Mexican trucks their differences as early as this week.

White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan told AP the administration is reviewing the proposal.

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