Mexico pilot project carriers staying primarily within border states

The OIG's audit showed that the FMCSA has received 30 carrier applications for the pilot program.

The Trucker News Services

9/7/2012

WASHINGTON — Only one of the first four Mexico-domiciled Mexican carriers that were granted operating authority for the cross-border demonstration project as of last spring were carrying freight beyond border states, according to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation.

The OIG released an audit of the pilot project Aug. 16.

The audit was conducted from October 2011 when the program began, to May of this year.

The OIG released the following information about the four carriers based on the audit.

• Transportes Olympic is a one-truck and two-driver carrier from Nuevo Leon, and received pilot program authority in October 2011. The carrier is the only pilot program participant traveling beyond the border states at this time and has made trips through Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Transportes Olympic’s 18-month participation in the previous pilot program qualifies it for the permanent authority stage.

• Moises Alvarez Perez is a one-truck and one-driver carrier from Tijuana. This carrier participated in the previous pilot program and was approved for the second pilot program on Dec. 28, 2011. Moises Alvarez Perez has remained within the border states.

• Baja Express is a one-truck and one-driver carrier from Tijuana. Baja Express entered the pilot program as a new carrier operation and was granted authority on March 30. Baja Express has remained within the border states for five of its 35 crossings and within the commercial zone for the other 30 crossings.

• Transportes del Valle is a one-truck and one-driver carrier from Tijuana. Transportes del Valle entered the pilot program as a new carrier operation and was granted authority on June 12. Transportes del Valle has remained within the border states.

The audit showed that the FMCSA has received 30 carrier applications for the pilot program.

According to data in FMCSA’s electronic Mexican Carrier Application Tracking System, seven carriers were being vetted, two carriers were awaiting a PASA, five carriers were undergoing PASAs and nine carriers had successfully passed a PASA. In addition, FMCSA dismissed four applications and three carriers withdrew their applications.

The audit noted that low participation in the pilot program puts the FMCSA at risk of not meeting its goals for providing an adequate and representative sample of Mexico-domiciled carriers and inspections necessary to assess the impact on motor carrier safety.

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