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Business   
Sept. 1, 2007, 12:01AM
Mexico's trucks get OK to roll in U.S. next week

By KAREN GULLO
Bloomberg News 

RESOURCESMexican truckers can begin hauling goods over the border into
the U.S. as soon as Thursday after a federal appeals court on Friday
refused a request from the Teamsters union and others to block the
vehicles.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the
Teamsters and other groups suing hadn't met the legal requirements to
justify blocking the program.

"This is the wrong decision for American working men and women. We
will now proceed to litigate this case on the merits," Teamsters
General President James Hoffa said in a statement. "We believe this
program clearly breaks the law. We will continue to fight for safety
and national security in the courts and in Congress."

Current rules require freight from Mexico to be transferred to U.S.
trucks and drivers in the U.S. Under a one-year U.S. pilot program,
Mexican trucking companies could move shipments around the U.S.
themselves, saving time and money. The program was supposed to start
as soon as Thursday.

The Teamsters union, representing 100,000 long-haul truckers, and the
Sierra Club and other public advocacy groups asked the court Wednesday
to put the plan on hold until they receive more assurances that the
vehicles comply with U.S. environmental, security and safety
regulations and that U.S. truckers would get reciprocal rights to
travel in Mexico.

The U.S. Transportation Department said in a Thursday court filing
that Mexican trucks will be pre-screened and inspected for safety
before being allowed to travel in the U.S. Mexico promised to
reciprocate for U.S. trucks, the agency said.

Forty-four trucks from Mexico are expected to participate in the
program during the first 30 days, the U.S. said in the filing. Trucks
from as many as 100 companies may eventually participate, the U.S.
said.

Canadian trucks have full access to U.S. roads.

Mexican trucks are limited to so-called commercial zones within about
25 miles of the U.S. border.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/5100391.html


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2 wrongs don't make a right, but 3 rights make a left.