Mexico Bars Used U.S. Truck Imports

Truck manufacturers and carriers with a large inventory of used trucks with falling prices are casting their eyes wishfully south of the border to Mexico.

	Related Stories
	Used Truck Glut Vexes Class 8 Manufacturers (April 3) Mack's Gigou Says Industry Needs Long-Term Solution to Used Truck Problem (Mar. 30) Hebe Sees Used Truck Price Crisis (Feb. 2) (Note: To return to this story, click the "Back" button on your browser.)

A 1995 inventory of Mexican trucking equipment found 61% of the tractors were more than 10 years old. The current glut of used trucks in the United States coupled with an aging equipment in Mexico would seem like an ideal business match.

However, selling off the overabundance of under-priced used trucks to Mexican trucking companies is not going to happen anytime soon. This is despite a shortage of used trucks in south of the border, said Martin Rojas, director of customs, immigration and cross border operations at American Trucking Association.

What’s the holdup? The North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mexico prohibits the import of used trucks from either the United States or Canada. The trade accord provides for a phasing-out the ban, but that won’t start until January 2009. Even then the vehicles must have at least a decade of use under their wheels before they can be sold in Mexico.

For the full story, see the Apr. 24 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.