Full access for Mexican trucks hits rough road

Partisans from both sides of the political divide in Washington are getting fired up in opposition to the planned opening up of the US to Mexican long-haul trucking.

A Bush administration plan to proceed with a pilot program to give Mexican truckers full access of U.S. roads has caused a bipartisan uproar on Capitol Hill.

“The cross-border trucking program is bad for America,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter, California Republican and presidential candidate. “It appears, under the current program, that commercial interests are being pushed ahead of the safety and security interests of the American people.”

The Teamsters union and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, a trade association representing the independent truck owner-operators and professional drivers, also oppose the program, saying Mexican trucking companies have poor safety figures, do not keep reliable records on accidents, and do not dependably test drivers for drugs and alcohol.

To say the LEAST, the Chief is highly skeptical of assurances that the Mexican trucking will REALLY be in compliance to US standards. When drug smugglers buy armed protection and diversionary activities on the border from Mexican army and police (as has happened previously), why would anyone rationally expect the situation with truckers being certified by Mexico to meet US standards to be any different?