Mexican, U.S. trucking companies want out of pilot trucking program

CANACAR, a trade association representing Mexican motor carriers, has asked the Mexican Senate to cancel the cross-border pilot program with the United States. The group claims that contrary to the 1995 NAFTA agreement, Mexican trucking companies were not allowed to invest in U.S.-based trucking businesses or allowed to provide services within the U.S.

"The majority of people in the United States don't want Mexican trucks to go there, and we told our president that we don't want to go, either," said CANACAR president Manuel Gomez in 2001. "Nor are we interested in having U.S. trucks come to Mexico."

In the U.S., an effort to delay the pilot program continues in the U.S. Senate with the debate of the supplemental appropriations bill. An amendment to the bill would restrict spending any money on allowing Mexican motor carriers to operate beyond the border zone until certain conditions are met. The amendment was accepted on a voice vote – with no opposition.

In addition, U.S truckers have set a date for a "truck out" boycott and plan to circle all state legislature capital-buildings bumper-to-bumper, three or more trucks wide on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 23, 24 and 25.