Mexican Trucks Found Deep In U.S.

Mexican motor carriers have been found operating illegally in 28 U.S. states — far beyond the narrow border zones to which they are restricted, according to the Department of Transportation’s inspector general, Kenneth Mead.

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Mexican ownership of inspected trucks was confirmed through their identification numbers. Mead said he compared DOT numbers for Mexico-based carriers with results of roadside inspections for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1998.

His finding was made public at a June 24 Capitol Hill press conference by Reps. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), Rep. Jack Quinn (R-N.Y.) and Teamsters President James P. Hoffa, who jointly called for an investigation of the extent of the problem.

“We fear that this is only the tip of the iceberg,” Oberstar said. “DOT’s database includes approximately 15,000 Mexico-domiciled carriers. Some of these carriers may have operated illegally beyond the commercial zones but managed to avoid inspection.”

Mexican trucks are allowed to transit the United States if they are en route to Canada, but must be registered with DOT and comply with U.S. safety regulations, a DOT spokesman said.

The IG said inspections were conducted on trucks belonging to 68 Mexico-based carriers at least 100 times in 24 states deep in the interior of the United States, including Colorado, Iowa, Montana and the Dakotas. The vehicles of 11 Mexican carriers were inspected more than once, according to Mead’s analysis.

He said inspections were also performed on the same 68 carriers more than 500 times within the four border states but outside the designated zones for local border traffic. Mexican carriers may do business only within the zones, which run from 12 to 20 miles into California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas from Mexico.

For the full story, see the June 28 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.