Thread: More trucks needed for cross-border test, panel says

More trucks needed for cross-border test, panel says
By DAVID HENDRICKS SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
Nov. 6, 2008, 10:50PM


independent panel evaluating the first year of the U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking demonstration project has told the U.S. Department of Transportation that not enough Mexican carriers participated and recommended steps to improve the test program if it continues.

The panel’s report to the department, released Thursday, also found that authorized Mexican carriers making U.S. deliveries beyond the border zone caused no crashes during the test program’s first year and passed inspection at rates higher than U.S.-based trucking companies.

Transportation officials on Aug. 4 announced plans to extend the test project another two years, until September 2010, but the House of Representatives passed a resolution two months ago aimed at killing the program. The Senate did not act on the House measure before Congress adjourned in October.

The independent evaluation was conducted by former Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Mortimer Downey III, former Congressman James Kolbe and former department Inspector General Kenneth Mead.

Only 25 Mexican carriers participated during the demonstration program’s first year, not the 100 projected by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Those carriers operated 101 trucks, far below the expected 500.

Of the more than 12,000 Mexico-to-U.S. truck crossings between Sept. 7, 2007, and Sept. 6, 2008, less than 15 percent made U.S. deliveries beyond the border zone.

Mexican drivers and vehicles passed U.S. federal inspections at rates higher than U.S. drivers and trucks, the panel also reported.

The panel recommends that the Transportation Department and its motor carrier safety agency increase Mexican carrier participation, make three different federal safety requirements the same, step up use of tracking devices and check more vigorously for insurance coverage.

The demonstration program was launched in 2007 after the Free Trade Alliance San Antonio proposed in 2006 the project to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to test technologies including radio frequency and transponder devices.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hea ... 99757.html

I find that very hard to believe.

The panel’s report to the department, released Thursday, also found that authorized Mexican carriers making U.S. deliveries beyond the border zone caused no crashes

So this test is only to see how many American's would be killed or injured? Well isn't this a precious test of stupity!!

So they want to add more mexican truck carriers until there is enough American's killed and or injured to see if it is worth being implemented or not?

hmm.. how many legislators would have to stand in the road before a few got hit by a car.. Maybe this should be investigated also.

Ya but how many illegals and drugs did they smuggle into the U.S.?

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

Ya but how many illegals and drugs did they smuggle into the U.S.?

Ya beat me to the punch!

Originally Posted by Hylander_1314

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

Ya but how many illegals and drugs did they smuggle into the U.S.?

Ya beat me to the punch!

Congress already voted to shut this program down, yet they want to add more of these Mexican trucks into the ALREADY VOTED DOWN PROGRAM? Fire the incompetent jerks!

Before a missile strike, the CIA wants to know for sure that the number of civilian casualties will be within the "allowable" limits.

I guess the same applies here-and has been applied going decades into the past, if you consider the number of "allowable" American casualties illegal aliens have created.

So, those who WANT illegals here are willing to ALLOW innocent Americans to be killed in the process.

Doesn't the military call civilian deaths collateral damage? According to my dictionary, collateral means side by side or equal but subordinate. I have a feeling that the second definition is the one preferred by this DOT.