ARLINGTON, Va., July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves issued the following statement after the United States and Mexico announced the launch of a new cross-border trucking program:
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"American Trucking Associations welcomes this latest step in improving the efficiency of trucking and trade at our southern border. By signing this historic agreement, the U.S. and Mexico have laid the groundwork for continued economic growth on both sides of the border.
"Further, ATA is encouraged that Mexico will soon be dropping its incredibly damaging tariffs, which will also spur growth in trade between our two countries.
"We also note that Mexican fleets participating in the program will be bound by the same rules and regulations applicable to American carriers, and we are pleased that the agreement allows for U.S. carriers to compete in Mexico.
"ATA has been, and continues to be, concerned with the expenditure of taxpayer dollars for equipment to be used to monitor Mexican carriers' hours-of-service and track their movements in order to prevent domestic freight moves. However, we do appreciate the Department of Transportation's position that this financial help will be limited to the term of the pilot program and allows the U.S. to more effectively audit participating Mexican carriers."
The American Trucking Associations (www.truckline.com) is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States. Follow ATA on Twitter @TruckingMatters (www.twitter.com/truckingmatters), or become a fan on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/y4qwp6h).
SOURCE American Trucking Associations
