DOT: Mexican trucking program is working

By Dave Hannon -- Purchasing, 3/26/2008 9:44:00 AM

At a speech in Colorado this week, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters said the pilot program allowing Mexican trucks to cross the U.S. borders and U.S. trucks to cross into Mexico unfettered was making it easier to export U.S.-made goods and crops to Mexico.

But according to news reports and a statement released by the Transportation Dept., Peters did not address the more controversial part of the plan, under which approved Mexican truckers are allowed to enter the U.S. Rather, Peters emphasized the benefits of allowing U.S. trucks into Mexico, saying, “We should be looking for every opportunity to open new markets for our drivers, to find new buyers for our products and encourage new consumers for our produce.”

According to a Denver Post report on Peters’ speech, she confirmed that the pilot program could be extended for two years despite Congress cutting its funding in September.