University Conducts Comprehensive Study of Mexican Border Truck Safety

The Southwest Region University Transportation Center (Region VI), headquartered at the Texas Transportation Institute in the Texas A&M University System, recently reported the results of a detailed safety study of trucks crossing the U.S.- Mexico border into the State of Texas. The results of this study have important implications for public debates allowing Mexican trucks into the United States. 

In 1995, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) contiguous state cross-border trucking provision was not implemented by the United States in part because of concern that carriers from Mexico could not meet federal safety standards. Mexico took the case to arbitration, and on February 6, 2001, officials ruled that the United States must allow Mexican commercial trucks access to its highways.