Mexican truck enters US in Texas, Hoffa promises Teamsters will stop program

The first Mexican truck authorized to transport cargo within the United States crossed the border at Laredo, Texas on Saturday, headed for North Carolina. The Bush administration’s one-year pilot program is scheduled to eventually allow up to 100 Mexican carriers access to U.S. highways.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration had given the green light to the program on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Mexican government approved El Paso, Texas-based Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution as the first U.S. trucking company to operate in Mexico.

U.S. Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee blasted the pilot program for ignoring public opinion and putting the American public in danger because they say Mexican trucks are unsafe. “Democrats and Republicans are united in protecting America’s highways. Only the White House seems to be out of the loop,” said Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.).

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said "The Bush administration has sucker punched American workers by opening our highways to dangerous trucks. We don't know who these drivers are and we don't know what they are bringing in. The weapons of mass destruction George Bush is looking for could be in the backs of these trucks."

The Teamsters term the pilot program “dangerous, illegal and a threat to national security.” They have a case pending before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco and are pressuring Congress to block the program. Hoffa said the public is on the Teamsters' side. "Democrats, Republicans, independents -- everyone wants to keep our highways safe," Hoffa said. "The Teamsters are going to stop this madness," Hoffa said. "We are going to stop George Bush."