First U.S. Truck Crosses Border Into Mexico

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Nov 02, 2007

El Paso-based Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution hauls first-ever shipment into Mexico as part of the cross-border trucking demonstration project

Washington - Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution, an El Paso-based trucking company, became the first ever U.S. trucker to haul a shipment across the U.S.-Mexico border. The truck went through the Nogales, Ariz. commercial border crossing at approximately 9 a.m. local time on its way to Obregon, near Hermosillo, to deliver a load of plastic resin.

"Today is historic. We're giving U.S. trucking companies the opportunity to compete in a new market that they have never before been allowed to penetrate," said John H. Hill, FMCSA Administrator. "These opportunities will help reduce costs for American consumers and businesses while increasing trade efficiency at the border and maintaining safety on America's highways."

Thousands of Mexican commercial trucks operate every day in U.S. cities like San Diego and El Paso and last year made more than 4 million crossings into border commercial zones, which extend approximately 20-25 miles into the United States. U.S. commercial trucks, however, have never had the authority to operate in Mexico.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the start of a cross-border trucking demonstration project that would expand current border operations to allow up to 100 U.S. trucking companies to operate in Mexico and up to 100 Mexican trucking companies to operate beyond commercial zones in the U.S.

Every company, vehicle and driver participating in the program must pass a rigorous safety audit and inspection before being allowed to participate in the demonstration project. Checks on Mexican companies, vehicles and drivers are identical to, and in some instances more stringent than those on their U.S. counterparts.

"This is an incredible opportunity for U.S.- and Mexican-domiciled carriers and will enhance the flow of trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada," said Scott McLaughlin, president of Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution.

Transportes Olympic, a Mexican trucking company based in Nuevo Leon, earlier this week became the first Mexican carrier to operate beyond U.S. commercial border zones, as part of the demonstration project. The company delivered a load of steel to North Carolina, where it will be used to build a Baptist church.