Despite Congress taking action last year and passing a law to stop funding for the Mexican truck pilot program, the Department of Transportation (DOT) ignored this law and continues to operate the dangerous program to this day. Mexican trucks and drivers are not being held to the same safety standards that we require of our own trucks and drivers, and the lives of American motorists are being put at risk on our nation's highways everyday. Mexican drivers are still not receiving proper drug and alcohol testing, the accuracy of the database of Mexican driver violations remains in question, little to no enforcement exists for hours-of-service regulations for these drivers (the permitted amount of time that a driver can be behind the wheel), and Mexican carriers applying to participate in the program are not being subjected to thorough safety reviews. One such carrier that was approved to participate, Trinity Enterprises, has had over 1200 violations while traveling within the currently permitted commercial zone - about 100 violations per truck. This alarming number for one carrier alone certainly calls into question the safety records of other carriers that have been approved as well.

And with the same defiance of the will of Congress and reckless disregard for the safety of the American public, the DOT recently announced its proposal to extend the program for two more years. Enough is enough, and Congress thinks so too.  Today the U.S. House of Representatives will consider H.R. 6630, a bill that would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from allowing Mexican carriers to operate beyond the currently permitted commercial zone unless Congress authorizes it. In addition to putting a stop to the program, this piece of legislation would require that the DOT Inspector General, an independent review panel, and the Secretary of Transportation submit reports relating to the program that would give Congress a better understanding of the safety risks involved with allowing these trucks and drivers onto our nation's highways.

We need your help to put a stop to unsafe Mexican trucks! Please take the time today to send an e-mail to your representative and urge him or her to vote YES on H.R. 6630. A sample e-mail is provided below for your convenience.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to urge you to vote YES on H.R. 6630, the bill that would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from allowing Mexican motor carriers to operate beyond the currently permitted commercial zones unless Congress has expressly authorized it.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) continues to operate the dangerous Mexican truck pilot program despite Congress passing a law last year to cut off funding for it. With the recent announcement of its proposal to extend the program for two more years, the DOT continues to defy the will of Congress and put the safety of American motorists at risk.

Mexican trucks and drivers are not being held to the same safety standards that we require of our own trucks and drivers. Despite trying for thirteen years, the DOT has not been able to certify a lab for specimen testing in Mexico, and Mexican drivers are still not receiving proper drug and alcohol testing. Also, questions still remain about the accuracy of the Mexican driver violations database. Last year, the DOT Inspector General reported that 40,000 violations occurring in Texas had not been entered, and New Mexico had not recorded any Mexican driver violations for the two previous years.

In addition, there is little to no enforcement of hours-of-service regulations in Mexico, with the absence of a log book remaining one of the most frequently cited violations for Mexican drivers operating in the currently permitted commercial zones. Finally, the fact that Trinity Enterprises, one of the carriers approved to participate in the program, has had over 1200 violations occurring in the commercial zones, or about 100 per truck, seriously calls into question the safety records of other carriers that have been approved.

A stop must be put once and for all to this reckless program, and H.R. 6630 will do just that. The bill would also require the DOT Inspector General, an independent review panel, and the Secretary of Transportation to submit reports relating to the program that would give Congress a better understanding of the safety risks involved with letting these trucks and drivers onto our nation's highways.

I urge you again to put the safety of the American public first and vote YES on H.R. 6630!

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 09, 2008